Countries like Singapore that have turned themselves into workshops for the world computer industry are desperately exposed when the market turns down, and Singapore reports that its previously high-growth trade in electronics fell 1% to $20,625m in the first six months of this year, compared with a 14% rise in the same period in 1991, Reuter reports. The state Trade Development Board notes that for the whole of 1991, the country’s trade in electronics rose 9% to $41,875m following 16% growth in 1990. Singapore-based International Procurement Offices bought $4,250m of electronic parts in 1991 against their purchase target of $4,750m; they have been forecasting $4,565m this year. The main items purchased by the Procurement Offices include Winchester disk drives, electromechanical assemblies, printed circuit board assemblies and components.
