S'pore factory output grows, with best showing for electronics in 6 years

Singapore's factory output improved across the board in August, with electronics production climbing to its highest in six years and overall manufacturing activity at its best in just over three years.

- Colin Tan

The purchasing managers' index (PMI), a barometer of the manufacturing sector, rose to 50.9 points in August, up from 50.7 points in the previous month, according to the latest data released by the Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management on Sept 2.

Meanwhile, the electronics PMI, a key sector of manufacturing, rose to 51.3 points, from the previous month's 51 points.

Readings above 50 points denote growth, whereas those below 50 indicate contraction.

This was the manufacturing PMI's 12th month of expansion, while the electronics segment extended its growth streak for a 10th month.

Notably, the manufacturing sector's sub-indexes for employment and supplier deliveries - two key underlying components that had been in contraction - turned positive in August.

In contrast, only the supplier deliveries index for electronics remained underwater for a fourth consecutive month, despite posting a 0.2 point improvement from a month ago.

Elsewhere in the region, South Korea and Taiwan maintained their upward trajectory.

In comparison, data from China showed a divide between the smaller, export-facing manufacturers that appeared to recover, versus those in the broader sector that seemed to be stuck in a rut.