(I) Total Manufacturing Performance
1.  Manufacturing output in December 2008 decreased 13.5% compared with the same month in 2007. The three-month moving average index for December fell 10.7% over the same period in the previous year. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, output dipped 11.0% in December. Annual manufacturing output for the entire year of 2008 declined 4.1% compared with 2007.

(II) Performance by cluster
2.  The biomedical manufacturing cluster expanded 24.5% in December 2008. This was largely due to the 26.8% growth registered in the pharmaceuticals segment, which saw production of a different mix of active pharmaceutical ingredients with higher values. The medical technology segment also grew 0.9%. For 2008, annual output of the biomedical manufacturing cluster was 6.6% lower than in 2007.

3.  The transport engineering cluster grew 2.2% in December 2008 over the same month in 2007. Higher output came from the aerospace segment, which expanded 23.0% due to increased deliveries to US, Europe & the Asia-Pacific region. The marine & offshore engineering segment shrank 9.2% due to a higher percentage of work completed in December 2007. Annual output of the cluster rose 6.6% in 2008 compared with 2007.  

4.  The general manufacturing industries shrank 2.6% in December 2008.  The food, beverages and tobacco industries grew 14.9%, as production geared up for the festive season. The printing segment shrank 10.2% due to lower orders from both local and overseas markets. For 2008, annual output of the general manufacturing industries rose 1.6%, compared with the same period in 2007.

5.  Output of the precision engineering cluster dropped 21.1% in December 2008. Output of the machinery & systems segment decreased 19.7%, while the precision modules & components segment shrank by 22.6% in December 2008. Annual output of the cluster in 2008 was 7.4% lower than 2007. 

6.  Output of the chemicals cluster shrank 23.3% year-on-year in December 2008. In the petrochemicals and specialties segments, there were both maintenance shutdowns and temporary production shutdowns due to weak demand. Production in the petroleum and petrochemicals segments also decreased due to tightening of inventory control by some manufacturers. Annual output of the chemicals cluster in 2008 dipped 3.6% compared to 2007.

7.  The electronics cluster contracted 35.1% year-on-year in December 2008. All segments of the cluster had decreased production in December due to the global slowdown in electronics demand. Annual output of the electronics cluster in 2008 fell 6.7% from 2007.

8.  The next monthly manufacturing performance media release will be issued on 26th February 2009.

Editors’ Note: Updates on Monthly Manufacturing Output are available on
http://www.sprinter.gov.sg and http://www.sedb.com

For media enquiries, please contact Mr Alex Tan (Tel: 6832 6284 / Handphone: 9841 0392 / Email: alex_tan@edb.gov.sg)

For further information, please contact Ms Millie Lam (Tel: 6832 6031 / Handphone: 9740 7372 / Email: milliel@edb.gov.sg.

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