Three-year high: Singapore’s October PMI surged to 51.9

The electronics sector is expanding too.

Singapore's manufacturing activity expanded at the fastest pace in 3 1/2 years in October on a rise in new orders and new export orders, a survey showed on Tuesday.

According to a report by Reuters, the Singapore Institute of Purchasing & Materials Management's Purchasing Managers' index (PMI) rose to 51.9 in October, the highest since April 2011. That compared with 50.5 in September.

A reading above 50 indicates that activity is generally expanding, while one below that points to a contraction.
Rents for industrial properties remained unchanged in Q3. Monthly rents of factory and warehouse units stand at $2 per sq ft, while high-tech unit rents stayed at at S$3.00 per sq ft per month.

"The increase in the overall PMI was attributed to further expansion in new orders and new export orders, production output and stockholdings of finished goods," the SIPMM said in a statement.

Here’s more from Reuters and the SIPMM:

The PMI for the electronics sector rose to 52.5 in October from 51.9 in September.

That indicated growth in new orders from both domestic and overseas markets, the institute said.

The growth in factory activity came as U.S. manufacturing expanded far more briskly than estimated last month.

Still, manufacturing sectors in other Asian countries expanded slowly, with activity in China at a five-month low.
Factory activity in South Korea and Indonesia contracted.

If you've been wondering whether SBR could work for your company — yes, probably.

A lot of the companies we partner with started as readers. They'd been following our coverage for a while, saw their own customers and competitors in it, and eventually asked the obvious question: could we do something with you? The answer is usually yes. The shape of it depends on what you're trying to do.

The options are broader than most people assume — thought leadership articles, sponsored content, industry summits across Southeast Asia, regional awards programmes, podcasts, and media placements in print and digital. Some partners use one channel; most use a mix. We figure out the right combination by starting with your brief, not with our rate card.

So if the question has been on your mind, here's the easy way to ask it.

We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, and how. It's a better use of everyone's time.

Book a meeting

| Or download the media kit (PDF)

240,000 senior readers quarterly in print Top 1,700 Singapore companies reached

7 markets across Southeast Asia