SINGAPORE (Thomson Financial) - Singapore non-oil domestic exports fell 5.9 percent in March from a year ago to S$14.32 billion following a decline in both electronics and pharmaceutical shipments, government data showed on Thursday.
The fall was much deeper than the 0.3 percent drop that economists had expected based on a Thomson Financial poll, and followed a revised 6.2 percent increase in February.
Electronics exports declined 8.5 percent to S$5.43 billion while pharmaceutical shipments fell 34.1 percent to S$1.62 billion.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, non-oil exports dropped 2.6 percent in March from the previous month after a revised 1.4 percent dip in February. Economists were expecting a 3.0 percent expansion.
($1 = S$1.35)
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