The jump exceeded analysts' forecasts of a 8.9-13.0 percent rise and followed a similarly strong display in September when industrial production expanded by a revised 21.8 percent, up from the orignial 21.1 percent.

"Higher output came from all clusters, especially the transport engineering, biomedical manufacturing and electronics clusters," the Economic Development Board (EDB) said in a statement.

On a month-on-month basis, output in October was 0.1 percent higher, the EDB said, adding that for the first 10 months of 2005 factory production was up 8.6 percent from the previous year.

The transport engineering sector, which includes the marine and offshore engineering cluster, was the star performer for Singapore's vital industrial sector with output expanding by almost 34 percent.

This was driven by a 52.3 percent rise in marine and offshore engineering activity as shipyards and oil rig fabricators raced to finish huge order books for overseas clients, the EDB said.

Stronger demand from the region and the United States also boosted the transport engineering industry as aerospace output increased 16.2 percent.

Output in electronics, a key component in the industrial sector, increased 16.4 percent from a year ago and chemicals production was up 4.7 percent while precision engineering rose 12.2 percent.

Production from the biomedical industry, a new pillar to the industrial sector, increased 27.8 percent thanks largely to a 30.7 percent rise in pharmaceuticals to meet robust orders for drugs from overseas customers.

The monthly manufacturing report card is a barometer of the health of Singapore's trade-dependent economy as the industrial sector accounts for almost a quarter of annual gross domestic product worth S$180 billion (US$106 billion).

                                                      Home