(I) Total Manufacturing Performance
1.  Manufacturing output declined in January 2009 due to the global economic downturn and Chinese New Year festivities. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, output dipped 4.4% in January 2009. It decreased 29.1% compared to the same month a year ago. The three-month moving average year–on-year index for January 2009 fell 16.1% compared to the same period last year.

(II) Performance by cluster

2.  Output of the transport engineering cluster grew 3.3% year-on-year in January 2009. Higher output came from the marine & offshore engineering segment as the ship yards continued to work on existing ship building, ship repairing and oil rig contracts secured previously. The aerospace segment, on the other hand, saw a decline in output due to lower amount of repair work done.

3.  The general manufacturing industries contracted by 19.1% in January 2009. The output decline was partly due to some plant shutdowns during Chinese New Year. Production in the food, beverages and tobacco industries fell 13.0% while output in the printing industry decreased 29.5% compared to one year ago.

4.  Output of the chemicals cluster declined 24.0% in January 2009. All segments of the cluster had reduced production due to weak market demand. In particular, the petrochemicals segment continued to see some temporary production shutdowns in January to control inventory.

5.  The biomedical manufacturing cluster contracted 27.3% year-on-year in January 2009. The pharmaceuticals segment saw output decline by 28.8% on the back of a different mix of active pharmaceutical ingredients produced. The medical technology segment also fell 8.1% due to reduced export overseas.

6.  The precision engineering cluster shrank 37.4% in January 2009. Output in the precision modules & components decreased 39.8 % as orders dwindled due to the global economic downturn. The machinery & systems segment also declined 34.4%.

7.  The electronics cluster contracted 43.1% in January 2009 on a year-on-year basis. All segments of the cluster saw lower production due to the lackluster demand for electronic products worldwide. 

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

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

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