S'pore key exports rise 17%

S'pore key exports rise 17%

SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore's key non-oil domestic exports rose 17.1 percent in March from a year ago to S$9.76 billion (US$5.74 billion), boosted by strong demand for selected telecom and non- electronic products, the government said Thursday.

Non-oil domestic exports are regarded as the key barometer of the trade performance of Singapore, a major Asian transshipment center.

Total trade grew by 22.6 percent to S$38.59 billion in March from a year ago, the Trade Development Board (TDB) said.

"Singapore's external trade continued to expand in March, bolstered by healthy demand from Asian economies, as well as higher exports of certain product segments," the TDB said.

Non-oil domestic export markets such as the United States, Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong registered positive growth in March, although the European Union market continued to decline, it added.