Singapore's manufacturing PMI declines for first time in over two years

Singapore’s purchasing managers' index (PMI), an early indicator of manufacturing activity, decreased 0.1 point from the previous month to 49.9 in September.
Singapore's manufacturing PMI declines for first time in over two years ảnh 1Illustrative image (Photo: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/)
Singapore (VNA) – Singapore’s purchasing managers' index (PMI), anearly indicator of manufacturing activity, decreased 0.1 point from theprevious month to 49.9 in September.

This was the first contraction of the overallmanufacturing PMI after 26 consecutive months of expansion, the SingaporeInstitute of Purchasing and Materials Management (SIPMM), which publishes thePMI on a monthly basis, announced on October 3.

The PMI of the electronics sector, which accounts for 40% ofSingapore’s industrial output, decreased by 0.2 point from August to 49.4 inSeptember. This is the second month of contraction for this sector.

Chua Hak Bin, head of research at Maybank, said that thecontraction in electronics manufacturing on the back of slumping global demandwill depress Singapore's economic growth.

He said the upcoming third-quarter GDP estimate by theMinistry of Trade and Industry may show Singapore's GDP growth shrank 0.6%on a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis, after a 0.2% contraction inthe second quarter./.
VNA

See more

A view of Kuala Lumpur at night (Photo: techforgoodinstitute.org)

Malaysia aims to advance digitalisation in Southeast Asia

Malaysia aims to establish and sign the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) this year to promote digitalisation across Southeast Asia, according to Sugumari S Shanmugam, Director of the ASEAN Economic Integration Division at Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI).

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (Photo: nationthailand.com)

Thai PM calls for extra efforts to address PM2.5 air pollution

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has instructed ministries and departments to accelerate efforts to tackle PM2.5 air pollution, particularly through halting the purchase of burnt sugarcane, cracking down on vehicles that emit smoke, and strictly controlling construction sites.

Thailand's key export products to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar in November 2024 are diesel, refined petroleum products, and concentrated latex. (Photo: bangkokpost.com)

Thailand’s border trade value up 6%

Growing demand for Thai consumer goods and better economic conditions drove the value of Thailand's border trade to rise by 6% year-on-year to 1.66 trillion THB (47.96 billion USD) in the first 11 months of 2024, according to the country’s Commerce Ministry.

Inidonesian Minister for the Protection of Migrant Workers (P2MI), Abdul Kadir Karding (left), addressing a press conference in Jakarta on January 6, 2025. (Photo: ANTARA)

Indonesia sets ambitious labour export target for 2025

Indonesia aims to send at least 425,000 workers abroad in 2025, a move expected to boost the nation’s economic growth by 0.52% and generate over 300 trillion IDR (18.5 billion USD) in foreign exchange earnings, according to Minister of Migrant Worker Protection Abdul Kadir Karding.

Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Chang Lih Kang (Photo: Internet)

Malaysia prepares workforce for digital transformation

Government analysis showed that over 30% of jobs in Malaysia will be affected by artificial intelligence (AI) in the next decade, with manufacturing, services and information technology expected to undergo significant transformation, said Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Chang Lih Kang.

People wear masks to prevent COVID-19 in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2022. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Indonesia confirms cases of HMPV

Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin on January 7 confirmed the detection of cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the country, but assured the public that the disease is not dangerous.

Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (left) and his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani in Jakarta on January 7, 2025. (Photo: Antara/Muhammad Ramdan)

Indonesia, Japan discuss military technology transfer

The Indonesian Ministry of Defence said on January 7 that it is currently in talks to strike a possible military technology transfer deal with Japan to enhance the Southeast Asian nation’s defence capabilities.

CEO and Founder of Blackbox Research David Black (Photo: thesun.my)

Malaysia unlocks e-commerce growth

Malaysia’s strategic location, strong courier networks, and growing digital consumer base provide a solid foundation for e-commerce success, said David Black, CEO and Founder of Blackbox Research.

Dust shrouds Bangkok on January 7. (Photo: bangkokpost.com)

Bangkok faces hazardous air pollution levels

Bangkok experienced the highest air pollution levels in Thailand on January 7, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations reaching hazardous levels across all 50 districts of the capital, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).

The unloading activities at the Ahmad Yani port in Ternate, North Maluku, Indonesia. (Photo: Antara)

Indonesia eyes 7.1% export growth in 2025

Indonesia targets nearly 294.5 billion USD in exports this year to push the country’s economy towards a growth target of 8% set by President Prabowo Subianto.