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