Singapore's industrial production probably grew at the fastest pace in six months as companies such as Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing and Merck & Co operated their factories for more working days.

Manufacturing, which accounts for a quarter of Singapore's S$219 billion economy, increased 16% from a year earlier, after gaining 5.1% in December, according to the median forecast of nine economists in a survey.

Singapore's exports rose in January at more than double the pace economists had expected, as electronic shipments rose for the first time in four months and more drugs were sold overseas.

An increase in pharmaceuticals output last year helped offset a slump in production of semiconductors, disk drives and other electronics that account for about half of Singapore's overseas sales. - TODAY