1.         Singapore, 30 April 2007:       The first quarter of 2007 saw a 90% increase in net allocation of Prepared Industrial Land, from 50.4 hectares (ha) in Q4 2006 to 95.7 hectares in Q1 2007. The increase was due largely to a 184% increase in net allocation for Specialised Parks. Occupancy rate for Ready-Built Facilities remained healthy at 88%, despite a drop in net allocation from 14,600 sqm in Q4 2006 to 6,600 sqm in Q1 2007. Business Park and Technopreneur space were two product segments which experienced positive growth, with net allocations of 4,600 sqm and 1,200sqm respectively.  

 Positive growth in net allocation for Prepared Industrial Land 

 2.         The positive performance in net allocation of Prepared Industrial Land was largely due to an 82% increase in gross allocation from 57.4 ha in the previous quarter to 104.5 ha in Q1 2007, while terminations remained low at 8.8 ha (an increase of 2 ha compared to 4Q 2006). The positive growth in net allocation is due to the strong performance in the Specialised Parks segment, which saw strong gross allocations for Jurong Island (from 20 ha in Q4 2006 to 64.3 ha in Q1 2007) and Wafer Fab Specialized Parks (no allocation in Q4 2006 to 7.1 ha in Q1 2007). Jurong Island alone accounted for 62% (64.3 ha) of the total gross allocation for Prepared Industrial Land in Q1 2007.

 Key Performance Highlights of JTC Ready-Built Facilities Segment

 a          Flatted Factory (FF) space    Net allocation slipped into the negative territory at 2,000 sqm, compared to the positive 6,200 sqm registered in Q4 2006. Gross allocation declined from 36,900 sqm in Q4 2006 to 28,400 sqm in Q1 2007. This quarter’s weaker gross allocation coupled with termination remaining at 30,400 sqm, resulted in negative net allocation for Flatted Factory space. 

  b.         Technoprenuer (TP) space     Net allocation for Technopreneur Space increased to 1,200 sqm, compared to 300 sqm in Q4 2006. This is due to high gross allocation (from 900 sqm in Q4 2006 to 1,400 sqm in Q1 2007) and low terminations (from 600 sqm in Q4 2006 to 300 sqm in Q1 2007).

 c.         Business Park (BP) space     Net allocation for Business Park space rose by 92%, from 2,400 sqm in Q4 2006 to 4,600 sqm in Q1 2007.  This was due to strong gross allocations of 7,200 sqm (compared to 3,200 sqm in Q4 2006) despite an increase in terminations from 800 sqm in Q4 2006 to 2,600 sqm in Q1 2007.  

d.         Standard Factory (SF) space Net allocation for Standard Factory space remained in the negative territory in the first quarter of 2007, at 5,100 sqm as compared to 1,100 sqm in Q4 2006. With supply maintained at 2,438 sqm, occupancy rate held steady at 96%.

e.         Stack-up Factory (SS) space Net allocation of Stack-up Factory space increased by 16% from 6,800 sqm in Q4 2006 to 7,900 sqm  in Q1 2007. This was due to a 76% decline in termination compared to the last quarter (from 7,800 sqm to 1,900 sqm).

 Full Industrial Facilities Performance Report

 3.         The full quarterly facilities report for 1Q 2007 can be downloaded from the JTC Website at www.jtc.gov.sg. It is also available from JTC's Corporate Research and Knowledge Management Department through Ms Phylis Fan (Tel: 6883-3085 / Fax: 6885-5678 / Email: fanytp@jtc.gov.sg).

Annex A (Glossary)

Business Park

A business park is an area specifically set aside for non-pollutive industries and businesses that engage in high-technology, research and development, high value-added and knowledge intensive activities.

Business Park Space

JTC's ready-built facilities at the International Business Park, Jurong Town Hall, Phase Z.Ro, Changi Business Park and Biopolis. They cater mainly to the needs of new industries that are engaged in high value-added and knowledge-based activities.

Demand

Refers to cumulative net take-up of land or space

Flatted Factory

A type of ready-built factory that is generally medium to high-rise and housed multiple tenants/lessees sharing common facilities like car parks, loading/unloading areas and cargo lifts.

Gross Allocation

Land or space that is leased or rented to companies during a reference period.

Net Allocation

Gross allocation less termination of land or space.  

Occupancy Rate (Of Space)

Total space occupied as a proportion of total stock of space as end of a reference period.

Prepared Industrial Land

A type of JTC product referring to land that is made ready for lessees to develop their own industrial facilities. The land is normally provided with road access/frontage, main storm drain, water and sewer mains at its perimeter.

Ready-Built Facilities

Types of JTC products referring to factories that are built in anticipation of demand to allow lessees/tenants quick start-up and operation. The current JTC portfolio includes Standard, Flatted, Ramp-Up, Stack-Up Factories, Warehouses, Business Park Space and Technopreneur Space.

Stack-up Factory

A type of ready-built factory that consists of 2-storey factory units stacked on top of each other. It offers the same ground floor conveniences of a low-rise landed factory.

Standard Factory

A type of ready-built factory that is typically low-rise and meant for a single tenant. The building can be designed as a detached, semi-detached or terrace unit. 

Supply

Refers to the stock of land or space available.

Technopreneur Space

A facility specifically designed for technology-based activities. JTC currently has two such facilities: Technopreneur Centre located at 20 Ayer Rajah Crescent (storey 7,8 and 9) and 1003 Bukit Merah Central (storey 4,5 and 6).

Termination

Land or space returned to JTC during a reference period.

 About JTC Corporation

 JTC Corporation (JTC) is the lead agency in Singapore to develop key industrial facilities and vibrant industrial space, in support of the nation's economic development. Currently, the Corporation has under its management many developments including four wafer fab parks and an advanced display park, two business parks, a chemicals hub at Jurong Island, biomedical parks in Tuas as well as logistics hubs for aerospace, chemical and general warehousing industries. 

JTC also plays a catalytic role in sourcing and introducing leading edge real estate solutions – such as specialised research facilities and underground caverns -- to anchor important activities critical to the growth of the economy. It is the master developer for one-north at Buona Vista – a 200-hectare development for research & development and entrepreneurial activities. With a focus on knowledge-intensive activities in the biomedical, infocomm and media industries, one-north will be a niche environment for innovation incorporating research laboratories, offices, homes, parks and educational institutions.  JTC's home page address is http://www.jtc.gov.sg.