Singapore Daily News Brief - August 26, 2025

Key Developments

  • July factory output soars 7.1%, led by electronics cluster growth
  • Changi Airport Group named Singapore’s top employer for 2025
  • Inflation eases further as July CPI undershoots forecasts
  • Singapore-Africa Ministerial Exchange Visit kicks off in Singapore

Manufacturing Output Surges

Singapore’s factory production rose by 7.1% year-on-year in July, matching June’s revised growth and far exceeding economist estimates of 0.9%. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, output expanded by 8.2%, reversing June’s contraction. Excluding the biomedical sector, output growth reached 9.4% year-on-year and 7.1% month-on-month. Electronics led the gains with a 13.1% jump, driven by an 86.8% increase in server-related products within the infocommunications and consumer electronics segment.

Top Employer Rankings Announced

The annual Randstad Employer Brand Research named Changi Airport Group (CAG) the most attractive company to work for in Singapore in 2025, marking CAG’s third top-spot finish (previously 2016 and 2018). Marina Bay Sands and Procter & Gamble placed second and third respectively. DBS Bank, OCBC, and UOB also featured among the top 20, alongside new entrants Micron, Sea, and InterContinental Hotels Group.

Inflation Trend Moderates

Preliminary data show Singapore’s headline inflation eased to 0.6% year-on-year in July, below consensus forecasts, while core inflation cooled to 0.5%. Electricity and gas prices fell by 5.6% due to lower tariffs and government rebates, contributing significantly to the moderation. Accommodation inflation also eased from 1.0% to 0.5% year-on-year. The Monetary Authority of Singapore’s full-year inflation projection of 1.0% remains intact amidst subdued global energy prices and contained food costs.

Singapore-Africa Ministerial Exchange Visit Commences

The fifth Singapore-Africa Ministerial Exchange Visit (SAMEV) began on August 26, hosting 14 African Ministers and Deputy Ministers, including representatives from Rwanda, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana. The three-day forum, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, features high-level discussions on sustainable development, trade facilitation, ICT partnerships, and climate resilience. Delegates will also participate in the 8th Africa-Singapore Business Forum to bolster investment ties.