Singapore: Broad-based strength with cautious MAS – HSBC

HSBC strategists highlight Singapore’s strong 1Q26 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, driven by robust electronics exports, construction and services, making it one of ASEAN’s fastest-growing economies. Despite the energy shock, inflation remains contained for now. They have upgraded their growth and core inflation forecasts and expect the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to assess price pressures carefully rather than tighten aggressively.

Fast growth and measured policy stance

"Singapore, a developed market (DM) growing like an emerging market (EM), has demonstrated impressive resilience amid the Middle East conflict. In 1Q26, GDP growth of 6% has placed it as the second-fastest growing economy in ASEAN, just after Vietnam."

"In fact, based on high frequency indicators, the electronics trade remains exceptionally strong. On a three-month moving average basis in April, electronics non-oil domestic exports (NODX) accelerated to over 60% y-o-y, pushing headline NODX close to 15% y-o-y."

"Singapore’s resilience comes from its broad-based growth. For one, the construction sector saw growth of over 11% y-o-y in 1Q, reflecting Singapore’s push for large-scale public infrastructure."

"Overall, given the upside surprise in 1Q26 and the sustained AI cycle, we recently upgraded our growth forecast to 3.3% (from 2.9%) for 2026, putting it at the upper end of the government’s growth forecast range of 2-4%. We forecast 2027 growth of 2.5%."

"Outside of growth, inflation has been well-behaved, despite the energy shock. Core inflation, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) preferred inflation gauge, grew only 1.4% y-o-y on average in the first four months of 2026."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)