S'pore manufacturing output slows down

S'pore manufacturing output slows down

SINGAPORE: Singapore's April manufacturing output grew at a
slower pace of 4.8 percent as a fall in pharmaceuticals weighed
down total production, the Economic Development Board said on
Thursday.

With electronics growth easing, robust orders for oil rigs and
ship repair services helped sustain the expansion during the
month in manufacturing, which accounts for a quarter of the
trade-reliant economy.

April's growth compared with a revised year-on-year increase
of 9 percent posted in March and was within analyst forecasts for
a 3 percent to 8.4 percent rise.

Electronics production rose 9.8 percent from a year earlier
but this was down sharply on the 19.5 percent gain in March, the
board said in a statement.

The transportation engineering cluster emerged as the month's
star performer, growing 27 percent, "boosted by expansions in the
marine and aerospace segments", the board said.-- AFP