Singapore Economy Expands 6% in H1 2026 as AI, Tourism Drive ASEAN No. 2 Growth
Updated
Updated · Nikkei Asia · Aug 11
Singapore Economy Expands 6% in H1 2026 as AI, Tourism Drive ASEAN No. 2 Growth
3 articles · Updated · Nikkei Asia · Aug 11
Summary
Singapore’s economy grew about 6% year on year in the first half of 2026, making the city-state the second-fastest growing economy in ASEAN.
AI-linked demand helped power that expansion through strong wholesale trade, while tourism added another major lift to activity.
The first-half pace builds on 5.9% growth in the April-June quarter, when electronics exports were already being boosted by global AI demand.
That performance underscores how heavily Singapore’s 2026 growth has been tied to external demand drivers, even as officials have previously warned of a possible pullback.