Singapore's April manufacturing output dropped 2.7%

That's excluding biomedical manufacturing.

According to a release by the Department of Statistics, on a year-on-year basis, Singapore’s manufacturing output increased 4.7% in April 2013. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output fell 2.7%.

On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output grew 2.5% in April 2013. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output increased 4.0%.

Performance by cluster

Output of the biomedical manufacturing cluster grew 44.7% in April 2013 on a year-on-year basis. The pharmaceuticals segment expanded 48.0% mainly due to a different mix of active pharmaceutical ingredients being produced, while the medical technology segment grew 31.1% on the back of higher production capacities.

On a year-to-date basis, output of the biomedical manufacturing cluster increased 5.2%, compared to the same period a year ago.

The general manufacturing cluster’s output expanded 3.7% year-on-year in April 2013. The miscellaneous industries segment grew 8.6%, supported by higher output in batteries and metal doors, windows, grilles & gratings.

The food, beverages & tobacco segment increased 2.2%, but printing output fell 5.0%. On a year-to-date basis, output of the general manufacturing cluster rose 1.3%.

Output of the electronics cluster rose 1.1% in April 2013, compared to the same period a year ago. The other electronics modules & components segment registered a strong growth of 80.2%, on the back of higher orders from Asia.

The semiconductors segment expanded 6.9% in April, a turnaround from the declines in previous months. Cumulatively, output of the electronics cluster contracted 7.1% from January to April this year, compared to the same period last year.

The chemicals cluster’s output declined 1.2% in April 2013, compared to a year ago. The specialties and other chemicals segments rose 3.7% and 2.7% respectively, contributed by higher production of industrial gases and fragrances & flavours.

This was offset by lower output in the petrochemicals (-0.9%) and petroleum (-12.1%) segments, as a result of maintenance shutdowns. Output of the chemicals cluster in the first four months of 2013 fell 1.0% on a year-on-year basis.

Output of the transport engineering cluster contracted 8.4% year-on-year in April 2013 with all segments recording lower output.

The aerospace segment fell 0.9%, while the marine & offshore engineering segment declined 11.4% on account of lower contributions from rig building and ship building & conversion activities. Output of the transport engineering cluster in the first four months of 2013 declined 8.2%, compared to the same period last year.

Output of the precision engineering cluster declined 9.8% year-on-year in April 2013. The precision modules & components segment fell 5.2% with lower output of metal precision components and metal stamping work.

The machinery & systems segment contracted 13.8%, as export demand for semiconductor related equipment and lifting & handling equipment, including industrial automated systems, remained weak.

Overall, output of the precision engineering cluster shrank 10.3% year-on-year in the first four months of this year.