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Monthly manufacturing performance - November 2002 |
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26 December 2002
Manufacturing output grew by 7.3% in November on a 3 MMA basis
(I) Total Manufacturing Performance
- Based on the seasonally adjusted (SA) month-on-month growth, manufacturing output dipped by 0.5% in November over October. On a year-on-year basis, manufacturing output showed a dip of 0.7%. This was due mainly to lower output in the biomedical science and engineering clusters. However, on a three-month moving average (MMA) basis, manufacturing output grew by 7.3% in November. For the first eleven months this year, total manufacturing output still maintained a growth of 7.2% over the same period in 2001.
(II) Performance by cluster
- The electronics cluster grew by 10.9% in November. Higher output of memory chips brought the semiconductor growth to 38.8% compared to November 2001. Data storage output grew by 8.2% to meet demand from the US. In contrast to these expansions, the output of infocomms products declined slightly by 1.0%. This was due to lesser output of PCs as some products were taken off production lines. Output of mobile phones and network products contracted as some products were relocated offshore. While production of printers fell, production of ink cartridges remained high. Cumulatively, output of the entire electronics cluster was up by 3.2% in the first eleven months this year over the same period a year ago.
- The chemicals cluster grew by 11.0% in November as all its segments recorded output increases. The petroleum industry grew by 12.7% as better margins again stimulated output. The production of petrochemicals continued to increase steadily by 10.0%. New plants also contributed to the output growth. Cumulatively, the chemicals cluster grew by 11.0% in the first eleven months this year compared to the same period in 2001.
- Output of the biomedical sciences (BMS) cluster declined by 36.0% in November year-on-year arising from a 42.5% decline in the pharmaceuticals segment. The effects of a major maintenance shutdown in October and a different product-mix of fine chemicals contributed to the declines in November. Cumulatively, output of the BMS cluster grew by 40.7% in the first eleven months of 2002.
- The engineering cluster dipped 1.7% in November because of declines in the transport and process engineering sub-clusters. Cumulative output for this cluster still increased by 2.4% in the first eleven months this year.
- The precision engineering sub-cluster grew by 5.8% in November as demand for lead frames, metal stampings, precision springs, electronic wires raised the cluster's output. On the other hand, the output of plastic and metal components decreased. Cumulatively, output in the first eleven months grew only 1.8% in 2002.
- The transport engineering cluster contracted by 6.1%, dragged down by the decline in the marine segment. Shipbuilding and ship repairing in November this year was lesser compared to the high level in November 2001 when yards were working on a few ship construction projects. The aerospace segment maintained higher output than last November as demand from the US sustained aviation repair works. For the first eleven months this year, this sub-cluster had a cumulative growth of 9.7%.
- The process engineering sub-cluster contracted by 5.5% in November as production of oilfield equipment and industrial equipment declined with lesser demand. For the first eleven months this year, output contracted by 5.0%.
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Editors' Note: Updates on Monthly Manufacturing Output are available on
http://www.gov.sg/sprinter and http://www.sedb.com
For media enquiries, please contact Ms Valerie Tay (Tel: 6832-6789/ hdph: 9685 2434/ Email: valeriet@edb.gov.sg)
The monthly index is available from the Research & Statistics Unit of the Economic Development Board. For further information on this, please contact Miss Kok Yit Hoe (Tel: 6832-6741 / Fax: 6336-1365 / Email: yithoe@edb.gov.sg).
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION
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