Singapore’s Exports Surge 46.2% as AI Demand Drives Electronics Boom
Singapore, September 17, 2026: Singapore recorded a sharp acceleration in its merchandise exports in August, with non-oil domestic exports (NODX) rising 46.2% year on year, according to data released by Enterprise Singapore on Thursday. The increase extended July’s 24.1% growth and was significantly stronger than economists had expected.
The strongest contribution came from the electronics sector, where exports jumped 131.8% compared with the same month last year. Enterprise Singapore attributed the expansion mainly to continued demand connected with artificial intelligence and related technology products.
Among individual product categories, exports of disk media products increased by 290.2%, while personal computer shipments climbed 237.9%. Integrated-circuit exports also recorded substantial growth of 90.9%.
The growth was not limited to electronics. Singapore’s non-electronic domestic exports increased 12% in August after declining 2.4% in July. Shipments of specialised machinery, non-monetary gold and medical apparatus all contributed to the improvement.
Singapore also recorded strong export growth across several major trading partners. Non-oil domestic exports to the United States increased 91%, while shipments to South Korea rose 87.1% and those to China increased 70.3%. Exports to the European Union, however, declined 1.7%.
The country’s overall merchandise trade expanded 44.5% in August. Total trade reached about S$156.9 billion, consisting of S$84.7 billion in exports and S$72.2 billion in imports.
Despite the impressive numbers, economists have cautioned that the annual growth rate is partly influenced by a relatively weak comparison base from August 2025. Enterprise Singapore’s data show that NODX had fallen to S$13.3 billion in August last year.
Singapore’s export performance nevertheless highlights the growing importance of AI-related technology demand for the country’s trade-dependent economy. Electronics, semiconductor components and technology-related manufacturing are playing an increasingly important role in the latest expansion.
For the first eight months of 2026, Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports were up 22.4% from the same period a year earlier. The government agency had previously raised its full-year NODX growth forecast to 14%–16%, reflecting stronger-than-expected trade momentum.
