SINGAPORE, 25 May 2026 – Singapore’s economy expanded faster than initially expected in the first quarter of 2026, supported by strong manufacturing, wholesale trade and financial services activity as global demand linked to artificial intelligence helped cushion the city-state from a more uncertain external environment.
Singapore’s gross domestic product grew 6.0% year-on-year in the first quarter, above the government’s earlier advance estimate of 4.6%. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis, the economy expanded 1.0%, reversing the earlier estimate of contraction. The stronger performance was driven mainly by wholesale trade, manufacturing, and finance and insurance services, helped by robust AI-related demand.
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