Singapore Catalysis Society

Abstract

The chemical industry is a major pillar of Singapore’s manufacturing sector. The first refinery came on stream in 1961, and since then, Singapore has become one of the world’s top three oil refining centres with a total refining capacity of 1.4 Mio bpd. Subsequently, a highly integrated petrochemical industry developed downstream from the refineries. Jurong Island is the cornerstone of the chemical industry in Singapore, and with an area of about 3,200 ha is one of the biggest chemical parks in the world. It is home to more than 90 companies with investments in excess of 30 billion Singapore Dollar (S$) (exchange rate in September 2008: US $1.00 = S$ 1.41). The output of the Chemical Cluster grew from 50.7 billion S$ in 2004 to 83.1 billion S$ in 2007 at a compounded annual rate of almost 18%. With this, the chemical industry accounts for roughly one third of Singapore’s manufacturing output. The pharmaceutical companies are similarly concentrated as a cluster in the Tuas industrial area. This industry registered 30% growth in 2006 to generate an output of 23.0 billion S$. More recently opened the 183 ha Tuas Biomedical Park, which is slated for expansion by another 188 ha. This industry park houses companies such as Genentech, Lonza Biologics, and GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals. The manufacturing industry can obtain support for research and process development from local subsidiaries and affiliates of companies such as Albany Molecular Research (AMRI), Codexis, and Sigma Aldrich Fine Chemicals (SAFC). Many big multinational chemical corporations such as BASF, Bayer, DOW, Mitsui Chemicals, and others have also set up their own research units in Singapore. The outlook of the industry is promising, and continued strong growth is expected over the next 10 years. To sustain this growth, the industry will need access to enough workers and trained professionals. In 2006, the chemicals sector accounted for more than 23,000 jobs. Manpower training is therefore of prime importance, and has a high priority in the planning by the Economic Development Board. Singapore is now focusing on innovation in chemical industry. By 2010, Singapore aims to invest up to 3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in research and development (R&D). Today, Singapore has over 22,600 research scientists and engineers in 18 research institutes and the two national universities.