SINGAPORE, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's manufacturing output rose 17.6 percent year-on-year in April, driven mainly by strong growth in the electronics sector amid robust artificial intelligence (AI)-related demand, official data showed on Tuesday.
On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output increased 5.8 percent in April, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) said in a statement.
Most manufacturing clusters recorded year-on-year growth during the month, with the exception of biomedical manufacturing and chemicals.
The electronics cluster expanded 44 percent, led by the infocomms and consumer electronics as well as semiconductors segments, supported by continued AI-related demand.
General manufacturing industries grew 16.9 percent, underpinned by higher production of structural metal products and beverages.
Precision engineering output rose 15.1 percent, boosted by stronger production of semiconductor equipment in the machinery and systems segment.
Transport engineering expanded 10.1 percent, supported by higher production of aircraft parts and sustained maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) demand from commercial airlines.
Meanwhile, biomedical manufacturing output fell 16.1 percent due to softer demand for medical devices and lower biologics production.
The chemicals cluster declined 17.6 percent, weighed down by weaker petroleum and petrochemicals output following disruptions in feedstock supply. ■
