Singapore’s manufacturing production increased by 10.1 per cent year-on-year in March 2026, bouncing back after a slight dip in February, according to data released by the Economic Development Board (EDB) on April 27. The slower February growth was attributed to temporary shutdowns during the Lunar New Year festive period, which eased as people returned to work in March, said DBS economist Chua Han Teng.
Growth Metrics
On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output increased 4.7 per cent in March. Excluding the biomedical manufacturing cluster, manufacturing output increased 3.5 per cent.
Sector Performance
All manufacturing clusters recorded output growth in March on a year-on-year basis, except biomedical manufacturing and chemicals.
Electronics grew the most, expanding by 30 per cent. The growth came from the infocomms and consumer electronics segments, as well as the semiconductors segment on the back of robust AI-related demand.
Precision engineering output surged 14 per cent, with the precision modules and components segment recording higher output of optical instruments, electronic connectors, metal precision components and tools, dies, moulds, jigs and fixtures.
General manufacturing also grew by 7.6 per cent.
Declining Sectors
Output in biomedical manufacturing declined 14.3 per cent due to softer demand for medical devices and a different production mix of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Chemicals also declined 16 per cent, on account of lower output in the petroleum and petrochemicals segments due to disruptions in feedstock supply.
Outlook and Headwinds
Following the heightened volatility observed in the first quarter of 2026, manufacturing performance is expected to be uneven in the coming months, said Mr Chua. While the trend for electronics remains positive, early signs suggest that Singapore’s broader manufacturing sector is facing rising input cost pressures and longer delivery lead times linked to the Middle East conflict, as reflected in the March manufacturing purchasing managers’ index.
Headwinds in the petrochemicals segment could intensify in the months ahead as refineries draw down their limited feedstock inventories, said UOB economist Jester Koh. “Nevertheless, overall manufacturing output could continue to hold up, cushioned by strong electronics and semiconductor output,” he added.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Ethereum Outperforms S&P 500 by 1,696 Basis Points Since U.S.-Iran Conflict, Says Tom Lee
Gate News message, April 27 — Tom Lee, chairman of Bitmine, stated that Ethereum has outperformed the S&P 500 index (U.S. benchmark equity index) by 1,696 basis points since the U.S.-Iran conflict, making it the best-performing single asset globally aside from crude oil. According to Lee, ETH has de
GateNews1h ago
U.S. Port Blockade Forces Iran to Store Oil in Floating Tankers and Abandoned Tanks
Gate News message, April 27 — Due to U.S. blockades on Iranian ports, Iran is unable to ship oil to customers and empty tankers cannot dock to load cargo, causing petroleum inventories to accumulate. To prevent certain oil fields from shutting down, Iran has begun storing crude oil on floating tanke
GateNews3h ago
TradFi Rise Alert: OJUICE (Orange Juice) Rises Over 4%
Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, OJUICE (Orange Juice) has surged by 4% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market
GateNews4h ago
Persian Gulf Conflict Pushes Oil Above $119, Reshaping Central Bank Rate Outlook
Gate News message, April 27 — The escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf has disrupted global oil flows, with Brent crude briefly surging above $119 per barrel and WTI spiking sharply from pre-conflict levels. While both benchmarks have retraced, crude prices remain near $100 per barrel, forcing ma
GateNews4h ago
U.S. Military Intercepts Six Tankers Carrying 10.5M Barrels of Iranian Oil, Forces Them to Return
Gate News message, April 27 — Six tankers carrying approximately 10.5 million barrels of Iranian crude oil were intercepted by U.S. military forces in recent days and forced to turn back through the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from oil tanker tracking website
GateNews4h ago
Bank of Japan holds steady, Japanese yen hits resistance at 159.5: A possible rate hike in June is the next thing to watch
BOJ’s April meeting maintained 0.75%, and the market expects another rate hike in June. The yen is around 159.5. Oil prices are rising and pushing up Japan’s import costs, increasing growth pressure. The Middle East situation and rising prices are the main risks. For Taiwanese investors: there are both offsets and benefits, with respect to how much Japanese stocks and yen-related costs and travel demand are helped. If the Middle East situation eases and oil prices fall by mid-June, the BOJ may raise rates to 1.0% within the year—this is the turning point.
ChainNewsAbmedia6h ago