Singapore's manufacturing output rose 17.6% year-over-year in April, driven by robust AI-related electronics demand, according to data released Tuesday by the Economic Development Board.
Excluding biomedical manufacturing, factory output increased 21.5%.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, manufacturing output rose 5.8% from March. Output excluding biomedical manufacturing also increased 5.8%.
The data comes after Singapore maintained its 2026 gross domestic product growth forecast at 2.0% to 4.0%, although the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) warned that downside risks have risen significantly due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
Singapore's economy grew 6.0% year over year in the first quarter, extending the 5.7% expansion recorded in the previous quarter.
"On a year-on-year basis, GDP growth in the first quarter was driven by strong performance of the wholesale trade, manufacturing, and finance & insurance sectors," MTI said.
The ministry said robust AI-related demand supported growth in the machinery, equipment, and supplies segment, as well as the electronics and precision engineering clusters, while banking, fund management, and securities dealing activities also remained resilient.
The electronics cluster surged 44% in April, led by the infocomms, consumer electronics, and semiconductors segments amid strong AI-related demand.
General manufacturing output increased 16.9%, supported by higher production of structural metal products and beverages.
Meanwhile, transport engineering expanded 10.1%, driven by stronger aerospace activity and sustained maintenance, repair, and overhaul work from commercial airlines, alongside increased ship repair and offshore engineering activity.
Chemicals output declined 17.6% due to disruptions in feedstock supply that weighed on petroleum and petrochemicals production.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry said Singapore's economic outlook has weakened since February amid heightened global uncertainty, though resilient AI-related demand should continue supporting the electronics and precision engineering sectors.
The ministry added that downside risks to the outlook have risen significantly and said it would continue monitoring developments closely and adjust the forecast if necessary.
