SINGAPORE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (SIPMM) said on Monday that the Singapore purchasing managers' index (PMI), an early indicator of manufacturing activity, rose from 50.8 in March to 50.9 in April.
This is the 10th month of expansion for Singapore's overall manufacturing sector. The PMI reading this April is the highest since December 2018, when the PMI reading was 51.1.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction.
Meanwhile, the PMI of Singapore's electronics industry posted a marginal rise of 0.1 points from the previous month to record a faster expansion at 50.7 in April. This is the ninth month of expansion for the electronics industry.
Sophia Poh, SIPMM vice-president of Industry Engagement and Development, was quoted by the Straits Times as saying that despite the upsurge in new orders, supply disruptions remain a major concern for manufacturers.
"Several manufacturers from the process industries are concerned about a labour crunch as a result of the recent entry ban on workers from India," she said. Enditem
