SINGAPORE's manufacturing output rose by 21.7 per cent in August compared to the same month the previous year, but if one excluded biomedical manufacturing output would have declined 10.5 per cent.

    On a seasonally adjusted, month-to-month basis, manufacturing output increased by 3.9 per cent in August, but if one excluded biomedical production, overall would have declined 4.7 per cent, a government statement said.

    Output of biomedical manufacturing expanded 145.8 per cent in August compared to the previous year, due to a surge in pharmaceuticals, attributed to higher valued-added ingredients.

    Output of the medical technology segment also went up 5.4 per cent in August, on the back of higher export demand for medical devices. On a year-to-date basis, the biomedical output increased by 14.3 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.

    Output of precision engineering grew 4.1 per cent year on year in August. The growth was attributed to the machinery and systems segment, which recorded higher output of semiconductor related equipment, process control equipment and mechanical engineering works.

    Output of the transport engineering cluster rose by 1.2 per cent in August. The aerospace segment expanded 5.5 per cent with a higher volume of maintenance and upgrading work received from commercial airlines. The marine and offshore engineering segment also edged up 1.7 per cent, with the completion and deliveries of marine vessels. In contrast, the land transport segment declined 25.7 per cent compared to August last year when there was a higher level of activity to meet scheduled deliveries.

     Chemical output shrank 1.2 per cent year on year in August. The specialties segment continued to post a strong gain of 22.5 per cent on the back of new production capacities that started earlier this year. The petroleum segment grew by 8.9 per cent compared to a year ago when throughput was impacted by maintenance shutdowns. In contrast, the other chemicals and petrochemicals segments fell 8.7 per cent and 26.1 per cent respectively, largely due to plant shutdowns for maintenance.

    The general manufacturing cluster's output declined eight per cent in August compared to the same month the previous year.

    Output of the electronics cluster was 21.9 per cent lower. The weakness in the cluster was broad based as global economic uncertainty put a drag on demand for electronics.

(source:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?page=2&classname=News)