Singapore's manufacturing output up 3.9% YoY in May

Transport engineering posted the highest growth at 25.6% YoY.

Singapore’s manufacturing output grew 3.9% year-on-year in May 2025, supported by strong gains in the transport engineering and precision engineering clusters, according to the Economic Development Board.

Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output rose 4.9%. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, overall factory output fell 0.4%, though it rose 0.7% excluding biomedical.

Transport engineering posted the highest growth at 25.6% year-on-year. Aerospace output surged 43.6% on stronger demand for aircraft parts and more commercial MRO jobs. Marine and offshore engineering rose 5.3%, whilst land transport fell 12%. From January to May, the cluster grew 18.0%.

Precision engineering output increased 10.3% in May. The machinery and systems segment rose 12.3% on higher production of semiconductor tools and measuring devices. Precision modules and components grew 3.0%. Year-to-date, the cluster grew 2.4%.

Biomedical manufacturing also rose 6.1%. Pharmaceuticals jumped 17.9% due to higher biological product output and a different mix of ingredients. Medical technology grew 3.2%. The cluster is up 0.5% for the year so far.

Electronics output rose 3.9%, led by a 42.6% surge in infocomms and consumer electronics, and a 3.4% rise in semiconductors. Other segments declined, dragging on overall performance. The cluster rose 9.1% from January to May.

The chemicals cluster 0.3% increase, with gains in other chemicals, petroleum, and petrochemicals offset by a 7.1% drop in specialties. The cluster is down 2.4% for the year.

General manufacturing contracted 8.9%. Food, beverages and tobacco fell 4.5%, whilst miscellaneous industries dropped 16.6% due to weaker output of metal components and paper packaging. The cluster is down 8.3% year-to-date.