Singapore chemicals output up 0.4%, overall output rises by 11.2%

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Singapore’s chemicals cluster output rose by 0.4% year on year in August, supporting the 11.2% increase in overall production, official data showed on Friday.

On a year-on-year basis, the cluster’s specialties, petrochemicals and other chemicals segments contracted by 0.3%, 0.7% and 1.5%, respectively, the Economic Development Board (EDB) said in a statement.

The petroleum segment recorded an output growth of 22.1% from the low production base a year ago due to lower export demand amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

“In particular, the petrochemicals recorded lower production due to plant maintenance shutdowns,” the EDB said.

Overall, the chemicals cluster grew by 9.2% year on year in January-August this year.

Singapore’s total manufacturing output expanded by 11.2% year on year in August.

On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output increased by 5.7% in August.