Manufacturing output rises 17.6% in April

Electronics led the expansion, supported by robust AI-related demand.

Manufacturing output rose 17.6% YoY in April 2026, according to the Economic Development Board (EDB).

Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output increased 21.5%. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output grew 5.8%, with the same increase recorded when biomedical manufacturing was excluded.

The electronics cluster posted the strongest growth, with output rising 44.0% YoY. EDB said the increase was led by the infocomms and consumer electronics, and semiconductors segments, supported by robust AI-related demand.

Semiconductor output rose 42.6%, whilst infocomms and consumer electronics surged 129.6%.

General manufacturing output grew 16.9%, supported by higher production of structural metal products and beverages.

Precision engineering output increased 15.1%, driven by higher production of semiconductor equipment and increased output of optical instruments, electronic connectors, metal precision components, and related tools.

Transport engineering grew 10.1%, supported by higher production of aircraft parts and sustained maintenance, repair, and overhaul jobs from commercial airlines. The marine and offshore engineering segment also recorded higher activity in ship repair and the construction of oil rigs and platforms.

However, biomedical manufacturing fell 16.1% due to softer demand for medical devices and lower production of biologics.

Chemicals output declined 17.6%, weighed down by lower output in the petroleum and petrochemicals segments due to disruptions in feedstock supply.

For the first four months of 2026, total manufacturing output rose 10.2%, whilst output excluding biomedical manufacturing increased 14.7%.

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