Singapore’s manufacturing output dropped 0.9 per cent year-on-year in October after seeing a 25.6 per cent jump in September and 16.4 per cent increase in August, based on data released by the Economic Development Board (EDB) on Thursday (26 November).
On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output fell 19 per cent in October, following a 10.5 per cent drop in September.
“The precision engineering and biomedical manufacturing clusters recorded output growth while the rest of the manufacturing clusters saw a contraction,” said EDB.
It stated that all manufacturing clusters, except the electronics and biomedical manufacturing clusters, project a smaller workforce between October to December.
Data showed that the electronics output shrank 0.6 per cent year-on-year in October.
Other electronic modules and components, as well as computer peripherals and data storage segments grew 16.0 per cent and 20.2 per cent respectively.
The semiconductors as well as infocomms and consumer electronics segments fell 2.0 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively.
Chemicals output decreased by 0.8 per cent year-on-year in October, with the petrochemicals and specialities segments increased 3.3 per cent and 11.8 per cent respectively.
EDB noted that the other chemicals and petroleum segments contracted on the back of plant maintenance shutdowns and lower export orders amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, general manufacturing contracted by 12.8 per cent in October on a year-on-year basis, with all segments recording output declines.
Transport engineering output decreased by 31.8 per cent year-on-year in October.
It noted that the land segment had increased 13.9 per cent, while the aerospace and marine and offshore engineering segments contracted 37.1 per cent and 38.7 per cent respectively.
“The levels of activity in aerospace firms and the shipyards remained low as new orders were adversely impacted by travel restrictions and weak global oil and gas market,” said EDB.
Precision engineering output, on the other hand, grew 10.6 per cent in October compared to the same period last year.
While the machinery and systems segment increased 16.8 per cent with a higher output of the industrial process and semiconductor equipment, the precision modules and components segment fell 3.5 per cent on account of lower production in dies, moulds, tools, jigs and fixtures.
Biomedical manufacturing output also increased 10.2 per cent in October compared to the same period last year.
The pharmaceuticals and medical technology segments grew 14.6 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively, with the former reporting higher output of biological products.
