By Xinghui Kok
SINGAPORE, Jan 2 (Reuters) – Singapore’s economy grew 5.7% in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, preliminary government data showed on Friday.
On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted basis, GDP expanded 1.9% from the third quarter, according to advance estimates from the trade ministry.
For the whole of 2025, the economy expanded by 4.8%, compared to 4.4% in 2024.
In his New Year message on Wednesday, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said while full-year growth was stronger than expected in 2025, it would be challenging to sustain that pace of growth this year.
Wong pegged last year’s growth to U.S. tariffs being imposed later and at lower levels than expected, and an AI-related surge in demand for semiconductors and electronics.
Friday’s data release did not include any forecasts for 2026. The ministry has previously forecast 2026 GDP growth at 1.0% to 3.0%.
In November, the trade ministry had raised its GDP growth forecast for 2025 to “around 4.0%” from a previous range of 1.5% to 2.5%.
At a review in October, the Monetary Authority of Singapore left monetary policy unchanged as growth in the city-state remained resilient despite challenges from U.S. tariffs. The next policy review is due later this month.
Singapore’s exports to the United States are subject to a 10% tariff. That is lower than the tariffs imposed on its Southeast Asian neighbours, but sectoral levies – including a 100% tariff on branded drugs – remain a concern.
Broader sectoral tariffs could hurt demand for Singapore’s exports, including semiconductors, consumer electronics and pharmaceutical goods. The central bank has said those three sectors account for about 40% of exports to the United States.
(Reporting by Xinghui Kok; Editing by John Mair)
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