MEDIA RELEASE SINGAPORE'S EXTERNAL TRADE – February 20161 IMPORTANT: Unless otherwise stated, use of any information in this news release must be attributed to International Enterprise (IE) Singapore. To be embargoed till 08:30 am on Thursday, 17 March 2016 MR No.: 006/16 Singapore, Thursday, 17 March 2016 Highlights • On a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, NODX increased by 2.1 per cent in February 2016, in contrast to the 10.1 per cent contraction in the previous month, due to an expansion in both electronic and non-electronic NODX. • On a y-o-y basis, NODX to all of the top 10 NODX markets, except Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China, grew in February 2016. The largest contributors to the NODX expansion were the EU 28, Hong Kong and Japan. • On a y-o-y basis, NORX expanded by 2.4 per cent in February 2016, compared to the 12.1 per cent contraction in the previous month, due to an increase in non-electronic NORX which outweighed the decline in electronic NORX. 1 Effective February 2014, data regarding the European Union (EU) shall be reported as EU 28 instead of EU 27, to accommodate the recent accession of Croatia to the EU. All top products/countries which are stated to have contributed towards the changes in trade figures are ranked by absolute change in level and not change in percentage. International Enterprise Singapore is the government agency driving Singapore’s external economy. The data in the media release is provided on an “as is” basis and is subject to updates. While every effort is made to ensure that the data is accurate, it is provided by IE Singapore without any representation or warranty. IE Singapore shall not be held responsible for any consequence arising from your reliance on any information provided by us. IE Media Release 17 March ‘16 Unless otherwise stated, use of any information in this news release must be attributed to IE Singapore (I) Overall Trend 1. On a y-o-y basis, NODX grew by 2.1 per cent in February 2016, following the 10.1 per cent contraction in the previous month. On a 3-month moving average (3MMA) y-o-y basis, NODX decreased by 5.6 per cent in February 2016, following a 7.0 per cent decline in the previous month. On a y-o-y basis, NODX grew by 2.1 per cent in February 2016 Per cent NODX, y-o-y growth 20 15 3-month moving average 10 5 0 -5 -10 -15 Feb 14 2. May Aug Nov Feb 15 May Aug Nov Feb 16 On a month-on-month seasonally adjusted (m-o-m SA) basis, NODX decreased by 4.1 per cent in February 2016, in contrast to the previous month’s 0.6 per cent increase, due to the contraction in both electronic and non-electronic NODX. On a SA basis, the level of NODX reached S$12.2 billion in February 2016, lower than the S$12.7 billion registered in the previous month. On a m-o-m SA basis, NODX decreased by 4.1 per cent to reach S$12.2 billion in February 2016 S$ billion 16 NODX, seasonally adj. level 15 14 13 12 11 10 Feb 14 May Aug Nov Feb 15 May Aug Nov Feb 16 Page 2 of 10 IE Media Release 17 March ‘16 Unless otherwise stated, use of any information in this news release must be attributed to IE Singapore 3. On a SA basis, non-oil retained imports of intermediate goods (NORI) increased by S$1.9 billion from S$3.7 billion in the previous month to reach S$5.6 billion in February 2016. On a SA basis, NORI was at S$5.6 billion in February 2016 S$ billion 6 NORI, seasonally adj. level 5 4 3 2 1 Feb 14 (II) May Aug Nov Feb 15 May Aug Nov Feb 16 Commentaries (a) Performance of Key Trade Components Total Trade 4. On a y-o-y basis, total trade contracted by 0.6 per cent in February 2016, following the 14.5 per cent decline in the previous month. Total exports decreased by 3.0 per cent in February 2016, following the 15.1 per cent contraction in the previous month. Total imports increased by 2.2 per cent in February 2016, in contrast to the 13.7 per cent decrease in the preceding month. 5. On a m-o-m SA basis, total trade increased by 2.8 per cent in February 2016, compared to a 5.2 per cent decline in the previous month. On a SA basis, the level of total trade reached S$68.2 billion in February 2016, higher than the previous month’s achievement of S$66.4 billion. Total exports rose by 0.2 per cent in February 2016, after the 4.3 per cent decrease in the previous month. Total imports grew by 5.9 per cent in February 2016, in contrast to the 6.2 per cent decline in the previous month. Page 3 of 10 IE Media Release 17 March ‘16 Unless otherwise stated, use of any information in this news release must be attributed to IE Singapore Total trade (y-o-y) contracted by 0.6 per cent Per Cent 20 Total Trade, year-on-year growth (Total Exports + Total Imports) 15 10 Total Exports 5 0 -5 -10 Total Trade -15 -20 Total Imports -25 Feb 14 May Aug Nov Feb 15 May Total trade (m-o-m SA) increased by 2.8 per cent... Total Trade, m-o-m SA growth (Total Exports + Total Imports) Per Cent 20 Aug Nov Feb 16 …to reach S$68.2 billion in February 2016 Total Trade, seasonally adj. level (Total Exports + Total Imports) S$ billion 100 Total Exports 15 90 Total Trade 80 10 Total Imports 70 60 5 50 0 Total Exports 40 30 -5 Total Imports 20 Total Trade -10 Feb 14 May Aug Nov 10 Feb 15 May Aug Nov Feb 16 Feb 14 May Aug Nov Feb 15 May Aug Nov Non-oil Domestic Exports (NODX) 6. On a y-o-y basis, NODX grew by 2.1 per cent in February 2016, in contrast to the 10.1 per cent decline in the previous month, due to an expansion in both electronic and non-electronic NODX. 7. Electronic products. On a y-o-y basis, electronic NODX increased by 0.7 per cent in February 2016, compared to a 0.6 per cent decline in the previous month. The rise in electronic domestic exports was largely due to disk media products (+20.9 per cent), telecommunications equipment (+23.5 per cent) and PCs (+9.9 per cent). Page 4 of 10 Feb 16 IE Media Release 17 March ‘16 Unless otherwise stated, use of any information in this news release must be attributed to IE Singapore 8. Non-electronic products. On a y-o-y basis, non-electronic NODX expanded by 2.7 per cent in February 2016, in contrast to the 14.1 per cent decline in the previous month. The increase in non-electronic NODX was led by pharmaceuticals (+40.0 per cent), non-monetary gold (+94.0 per cent) and jewellery (+55.6 per cent). Electronic NODX increased by 0.7 per cent …while non-electronic NODX expanded by in February 2016 … 2.7 per cent SA level NODX by Products: Electronics (S$billion) 6 Per Cent (Y-o-Y) 30 4 20 2 10 0 0 -2 -10 -4 -20 SA level NODX by Products: Non-Electronics Per Cent (S$billion) (Y-o-Y) 12 40 9 30 6 20 3 10 0 0 -3 -10 -6 % Growth (RHS) -30 -6 Feb May Aug Nov 14 Feb May Aug Nov 15 Feb 16 -20 % Growth (RHS) -9 -30 -12 -40 Feb 14 May Aug Nov Feb 15 May Aug Nov Feb 16 Oil Domestic Exports 9. On a y-o-y basis, oil domestic exports decreased by 27.2 per cent in February 2016, after the preceding month’s 34.3 per cent contraction. The y-o-y decline of oil domestic exports was mainly due to lower sales to Australia (-54.5 per cent), Indonesia (-26.2 per cent) and Panama (-35.6 per cent). In volume terms, oil domestic exports grew by 20.5 per cent in February 2016, in contrast to the 5.5 per cent decrease in the previous month. On a m-o-m SA basis, oil domestic exports contracted by 5.7 per cent in February 2016, following the 15.1 per cent decline in the previous month. Non-oil Re-exports (NORX) 10. On a y-o-y basis, NORX rose by 2.4 per cent in February 2016, compared to the 12.1 per cent decline in the previous month, due to an increase in non-electronic NORX which outweighed the contraction in electronic NORX. On a 3MMA y-o-y basis, NORX contracted by 3.5 per cent in February 2016, following a 3.5 per cent decrease in the preceding month. Page 5 of 10 IE Media Release 17 March ‘16 Unless otherwise stated, use of any information in this news release must be attributed to IE Singapore On a y-o-y basis, NORX rose by 2.4 per cent in February 2016 Per cent NORX, y-o-y growth 28 23 18 3-month moving average 13 8 3 -2 -7 -12 -17 Feb 14 11. May Aug Nov Feb 15 May Aug Nov Feb 16 On a y-o-y basis, electronic NORX decreased by 2.0 per cent in February 2016, following the 15.0 per cent decline in the previous month. The contraction in electronic NORX was due to ICs (-2.8 per cent), telecommunications equipment (-13.1 per cent) and parts of PCs (-13.9 per cent). 12. On a y-o-y basis, non-electronic NORX expanded by 7.6 per cent in February 2016, compared to the 8.5 per cent decline in the previous month. The increase in non-electronic NORX was due to pharmaceuticals (+43.5 per cent), alcoholic beverages (+48.6 per cent) and personal beauty products (+30.7 per cent). 13. On a m-o-m SA basis, NORX grew by 4.1 per cent in February 2016, in contrast to the 3.4 per cent contraction in the previous month, due to an increase in both electronic and non-electronic NORX. On a SA basis, the level of NORX reached S$19.5 billion in February 2016, higher than the S$18.8 billion registered in the preceding month. On a m-o-m SA basis, NORX grew by 4.1 per cent to reach S$19.5 billion in February 2016 NORX, seasonally adj. level S$ billion 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 Feb 14 May Aug Nov Feb 15 May Aug Nov Feb 16 Page 6 of 10 IE Media Release 17 March ‘16 Unless otherwise stated, use of any information in this news release must be attributed to IE Singapore 14. NORX to all of the top 10 NORX markets, except Taiwan, China, the US, Japan and Thailand, increased in February 2016. The top three contributors to the NORX growth in February 2016 were Hong Kong (+12.0 per cent), South Korea (+25.3 per cent) and Indonesia (+9.5 per cent). (b) Non-Oil Domestic Export Markets Overview2 15. NODX to all of the top 10 NODX markets, except South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China, grew in February 2016. The top contributors to the NODX growth in February 2016 were the EU 28, Hong Kong and Japan. The EU 28 was the top contributor to the NODX increase in February 2016 … SA level (S$billion) NODX by Market: EU 28 … followed by Hong Kong and Japan. Per Cent (Y-o-Y) 2.5 70 60 2.0 50 1.5 40 1.0 30 0.5 0.0 % Growth (RHS) -1.5 Feb May Aug Nov 14 16. -40 Feb May Aug Nov 15 20 0 -30 Japan 30 10 -20 -1.0 40 10 -10 NODX by Markets: Hong Kong and Japan 50 20 0 -0.5 Per Cent -10 -20 -30 Hong Kong -40 Feb 16 Feb 14 May Aug Nov Feb 15 May Aug Nov NODX to the EU 28 expanded by 16.1 per cent in February 2016, following the previous month’s increase of 14.3 per cent, led by pharmaceuticals (+23.5 per cent), aircraft parts (+102.7 per cent) and miscellaneous manufactured articles (+69.9 per cent). NODX to Hong Kong rose by 21.9 per cent in February 2016, in contrast to the 9.6 per cent decline in the preceding month, due to jewellery (+116.4 per cent), ICs (+9.4 per cent) and specialised machinery (+273.1 per cent). NODX to Japan grew by 15.1 per cent in February 2016, compared to the 9.3 per cent decline in the preceding month, due to pharmaceuticals (+103.5 per cent), specialised machinery (+69.2 per cent) and ICs (+17.0 per cent). 2 All growth rates quoted in the following analysis refer to year-on-year growth rates unless otherwise stated. Page 7 of 10 Feb 16 IE Media Release 17 March ‘16 Unless otherwise stated, use of any information in this news release must be attributed to IE Singapore Non-oil Domestic Exports to Top Markets (% Growth) NODX Electronic NODX Non-Electronic NODX Top Market 17. Jan 2016 Feb 2016 Jan 2016 Feb 2016 Jan 2016 Feb 2016 EU 28 14.3 16.1 25.1 -2.5 12.4 19.9 Hong Kong -9.6 21.9 -11.0 16.2 -6.2 30.8 Japan -9.3 15.1 13.6 16.6 -16.9 14.5 US -5.1 4.2 5.6 -0.3 -9.1 5.9 China -25.2 -1.2 -10.1 11.4 -31.8 -6.4 Indonesia -11.4 -5.9 -8.6 22.8 -11.7 -9.3 Malaysia 1.5 -4.9 32.1 13.9 -14.1 -14.3 Thailand -1.3 -9.2 2.3 -4.6 -3.8 -11.9 Taiwan -26.5 -14.4 -33.3 -22.9 -12.8 5.0 South Korea -14.8 -26.5 -11.9 -13.4 -16.3 -31.8 Emerging markets3 – NODX to emerging markets increased by 5.0 per cent in February 2016, in contrast to the 19.2 per cent decrease in the previous month. The rise in NODX to the emerging markets was due mainly to the Caribbean (+2,308.4 per cent), CLMV (+23.6 per cent) and the Eastern & Southern Europe (non-EU) (+28.3 per cent). _____________________________________ For media enquiries, please contact: Ms Daphne Hi, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications Group, IE Singapore Tel: +65 6433 4488 Fax: +65 6337 6898 Email: daphne_hi@iesingapore.gov.sg Editors kindly note: Trade statistics released by IE Singapore are proprietary data and therefore copyright belongs to IE Singapore. Any use of the information provided herein must therefore be attributed to IE Singapore. 3 Consisting of the Caribbean, Central Asia, CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam), Eastern & Southern Europe (non-EU), Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia and South Africa; the list of emerging markets has been updated. Page 8 of 10 IE Media Release 17 March ‘16 Unless otherwise stated, use of any information in this news release must be attributed to IE Singapore StatLink Online reports listing 5-year data (values & volumes) on Singapore's trade in terms of countries and commodities https://statlink.iesingapore.gov.sg About International Enterprise Singapore International Enterprise (IE) Singapore is the government agency driving Singapore’s external economy. We spearhead the overseas growth of Singapore-based companies and promote international trade. Our vision is a thriving business hub in Singapore with Globally Competitive Companies and leading international traders. IE Singapore attracts global commodities traders to establish their global or Asian home base in Singapore. Today, Singapore is a thriving trading hub with a complete ecosystem for the energy, agri-commodities and metals & minerals trading clusters. Through our Global Company Partnership and Market Readiness Assistance, we also work with Singapore-based companies in their various stages of growth towards being globally competitive. Our global network of overseas centres in over 35 locations provides the necessary connections in many developed and emerging markets. Visit www.iesingapore.com for more information. Page 9 of 10 IE Media Release 17 March ‘16 Unless otherwise stated, use of any information in this news release must be attributed to IE Singapore Page 10 of 10