Singapore Advanced Manufacturing Industry

Singapore’s booming advanced manufacturing sector offers significant opportunities for U.S. companies in semiconductors, automation, robotics, additive manufacturing, and smart factory technologies. With its pro-business policies, skilled talent pool, and government-backed Industry 4.0 initiatives, Singapore is a strategic launchpad for U.S. firms aiming to expand in Asia and capitalize on high-value manufacturing partnerships, R&D, and regional supply chains.

As the fifth-largest exporter of high-tech products, Singapore is an advanced manufacturing powerhouse with modernized infrastructure, stable governance, and a highly skilled workforce. Prominent businesses like Rockwell Automation, Micron, and HP have all established facilities in Singapore, with manufacturing constituting 21.6% of the country’s GDP.

While semiconductor manufacturing comprises 80% of the industry, Singapore is increasingly investing in other high-tech areas, including automation, robotics, 3D printing, and electronics manufacturing. The strong manufacturing sector has therefore been consistently expanding, featuring more than 25% year-on-year growth. This is facilitated by the country’s uniquely advanced workforce, which is ranked second globally in the 2022 Global Talent Competitiveness Index.

The Singaporean government’s strong and steady commitment to growing an already robust advanced manufacturing center provides the optimal environment for U.S. manufacturing businesses to thrive. The Singapore Manufacturing 2030 Vision is a 10-year plan for the sector to expand its value-add by 50%, enabled by a friendly business environment and a focus on attracting high-value global investments.

Furthermore, Singapore is working to optimize manufacturing processes through the initiative Industry 4.0 (I4.0), which seeks to transform automation to be more advanced and efficient. This effort is propelled by the government’s heavy R&D investment, with another $3 billion committed to advanced manufacturing research in 2024. Singapore’s Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) helps manufacturers “start, scale, and sustain” their improvements towards I4.0.

For more information, please contact Commercial Specialist CHAN Y K at U.S. Commercial Service Singapore.