January output shrinks for first time in a year
Economists say manufacturing could remain lacklustre in next few months
Singapore
SINGAPORE'S manufacturing sector started the year on shaky footing, with factory output contracting for the first time since December 2017.
Economists said that the underwhelming start - while expected - does not bode well for the rest of the year as manufacturing weakness is likely to continue, with some cutting their growth outlook for 2019 on the back of recent disappointing data including non-oil domestic exports.
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