Singapore April chemicals output falls 3.4%; overall manufacturing up 6.2%

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Singapore’s chemicals cluster output in April fell by 3.4% year on year, weighed down by plant turnarounds and weak demand in the petrochemicals segment, official data showed on Thursday.

Output from the petrochemicals segment fell by 12.5% year on year in April, the Economic Development Board (EDB) said in a statement.

April output of other chemicals, petroleum and specialties segments posted growths of 8.8%, 3.8% and 1.9%, respectively.

“There was higher production of fragrances, refined petroleum products such as jet fuel and mineral oil additives in the respective segments,” the EDB said.

Singapore’s overall manufacturing output in April expanded by 6.2% year on year, supported by strong growth in the transport engineering, electronics and general manufacturing clusters.

On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, overall manufacturing output increased by 2.2% in April.