On a year-on-year basis, manufacturing output increased 12.8% in September 2011. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output declined 12.5%. On a three-month moving average basis, manufacturing output in September 2011 increased 14.2% compared to the same period in 2010. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output declined 0.7% in September 2011. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output declined 2.3%.

Output of the biomedical manufacturing cluster expanded 88.4% in September 2011 year-on-year. The cluster continued to receive a boost from the strong performance in the pharmaceuticals segment (92.3% increase) where a mix of higher valued-added active pharmaceutical ingredients was produced. Output of the medical technology segment also went up by 15.2% in September with higher export demand for medical devices. On a year-to-date basis, the biomedical output increased by 21.9% compared to the same period a year ago.

The chemicals cluster's output expanded 7.4% year-on-year in September 2011. The specialties segment grew 28.6%, supported by new production capacities that started earlier this year. The petroleum segment also grew by 13.4% compared to the same period last year, partly due to the low base in last September when throughput was impacted by maintenance shutdowns. The other chemicals and petrochemicals segments fell 3.6% and 11.3% respectively. Cumulatively, output of the chemicals cluster grew 7.3% from January to September 2011, compared to the same period a year ago.  

Output of the transport engineering cluster rose 4.2% year-on-year in September 2011 as output growth in the aerospace and marine & offshore engineering segments outweighed the decline in the land transport segment. The aerospace segment recorded a 9.0% increase in output as demand for engines repair and upgrading jobs of air carriers remained healthy. A higher percentage of completion in ship conversion projects contributed to a 3.5% gain in the marine & offshore engineering segment. Cumulatively, output of the cluster grew 5.2% in the first nine months of 2011, compared to the same period last year.

The general manufacturing cluster's output declined by 6.3% year-on-year in September 2011 as output gain in the food, beverages & tobacco segment (2.9%) was offset by declines in the printing (-2.9%) and miscellaneous industries (-11.6%) segments. The printing industry segment recorded lower output for books and periodicals. The miscellaneous industries segment recorded lower production in secondary batteries, wooden furniture and steel products. On a year-to-date basis, output of the cluster was 2.6% lower, compared to the same period last year.

The output of the precision engineering cluster declined 6.4% year-on-year in September 2011 as both segments within the cluster recorded lower output. The machinery & systems segment's output declined by 3.2%, due to weaker demand for semiconductor related equipment, and a fall in output of industrial automation systems and refrigerating & air-conditioning compressors. Lower production in precision engineering parts, as well as dies, moulds, jigs and other tools also led to a 11.4% contraction in the precision modules & components segment. On a year-to-date basis, the output of the precision engineering cluster was 19.8% higher than the same period a year ago. 

The output of the electronics cluster was 26.5% lower in September 2011 compared to the same period last year. All segments within the cluster contracted amidst the weakening global demand for electronics, with the semiconductors segment posting the largest decline (of -29.9%).  For the first nine months of 2011, electronics output declined by 6.9%, compared to the same period a year ago.

The next monthly manufacturing performance media release will be issued on 25th November 2011.

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

For media enquiries, please contact 
Ms Karen Lin 
(Tel: 68326587/ Handphone: 96230355/ Email: karen_lin@edb.gov.sg)

For further information, please contact
Mr Chong Tse Ming 
(Tel 68326677/ Handphone: 91547959/ Email: quin_chong@edb.gov.sg)