SINGAPORE EXPORTS FALL SHARPLY, UNDERSCORE WEAK EXTERNAL DEMAND

SINGAPORE - Non-oil domestic exports (NODX) fell by -30.6% y/y after a small increase in January. The decline was attributable to weak demand from Europe (-52.2% y/y) and the U.S. (-52.1%). BBVA Bank says that while Singapore’s monthly data are notoriously volatile (and may be distorted by the shift in this year’s Chinese New Year timing), the disappointing out-turn is a reminder of the weak external environment, as seen recently in weak export figures from Taiwan and Korea, in contrast to a surge in January/February exports from China.