SINGAPORE'S MANUFACTURING OUTPUT DOWN 9.5 PCT IN APRIL

SINGAPORE, May 26 (Bernama) -- Singapore's manufacturing output declined 9.5 per cent year-on-year in April 2011.

In a statement Thursday, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB Singapore) said excluding biomedical manufacturing, output fell 0.5 per cent.

On a three-month moving average basis, manufacturing output in April 2011 increased 6.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2010.

On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output fell 16.3 per cent in April 2011. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output declined 6.2 per cent.

Output of the precision engineering cluster however, expanded 28.5 per cent year-on-year in April 2011.

Machinery and systems’ output rose 64.9 per cent, supported by robust demand for semi-conductor related equipment, process control equipment as well as a higher volume of engineering works in the chemicals sector.

The transport engineering cluster’s output grew 6.3 per cent year-on-year in April 2011, with all segments posting higher output. The aerospace segment increased 9.9 per cent with higher volume of aircraft repair and maintenance jobs from commercial airlines.

The land transport segment also recorded a gain of 6.5 per cent as a result of higher production of automotive parts and accessories, while the marine and offshore engineering segment grew 2.4 per cent with higher output from oil and gas field equipment and ship conversion projects.

Cumulatively, output of the cluster grew 5.9 per cent in the first four months of 2011, compared to the same period last year.

The general manufacturing cluster’s output declined 8.3 per cent
year-on-year in April 2011.

The decline was largely due to the printing and miscellaneous segments, which saw output fall 6.5 per cent and 14.1 per cent respectively.

Cumulative output of the cluster in the first four months of 2011 declined 0.6 per cent, compared to the same period last year.