Singapore ended 2025 with firmer economic momentum than earlier quarters suggested. Advance estimates from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Singapore Department of Statistics (Singstats) show the economy expanding 5.7 per cent year on year in the fourth quarter, up from 4.3 per cent in the previous quarter.
For the full year, GDP growth reached 4.8 per cent, marking an improvement on 2024 and reinforcing the view that the recovery has broadened beyond a narrow post-pandemic rebound.
For businesses, the key takeaway is not just the headline growth, but where that growth came from and what it implies for operating conditions in 2026.
Manufacturing Remained The Primary Growth Engine
Manufacturing output expanded by 15 per cent in the fourth quarter on a year-on-year basis, driven largely by pharmaceuticals and advanced electronics linked to global technology demand.
This matters for firms across the value chain. Strong manufacturing performance supports upstream suppliers, contract manufacturers, logistics providers and professional services firms. It also underpins export earnings, which feed into broader corporate spending and investment.
However, this growth remains concentrated in high-value segments such as the biomedical manufacturing and electronics clusters. The biomedical manufacturing sector was primarily supported by robust output growth in the pharmaceuticals segment, while the electronics sector was bolstered by sustained demand for AI-related semiconductors, servers, and server-related products.
Services Sector Growth Points To Stability Rather Than Growth
Services grew by about 3.8 per cent in the fourth quarter, with wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, finance and information and communications all expanding.
For most service-oriented firms, this signals stable demand conditions rather than a sharp cyclical upswing. The data suggests that the sector remains resilient.
What The Numbers Imply For Business Planning In 2026
The stronger finish to 2025 reduces the risk of a near-term downturn. Demand conditions are likely to remain supportive, particularly for export-oriented firms tied to manufacturing and technology.
At the same time, the uneven nature of growth means businesses should remain selective in expansion plans. Sectors linked to high-value manufacturing and digital infrastructure are better positioned than those reliant purely on domestic discretionary spending.
Cost management will remain critical. Wage pressures are likely to persist, even as overall economic growth improves, especially in skilled roles linked to manufacturing, technology, and professional services.
Read Also: CPF Contribution Ceiling Increases To $8,000 In 2026: How Employees And Employers Will Be Affected
Photo Credit: iStock/MJ_Prototype
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