SINGAPORE, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), a key early indicator of manufacturing activity, edged down 0.2 points from January to 50.7 in February, marking the 18th consecutive month of expansion, the Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (SIPMM) said on Monday night.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector, while a reading below 50 signals contraction. The electronics sector PMI also saw a slight decline, slipping 0.1 points to 51.

SIPMM Executive Director Stephen Poh noted that while the overall manufacturing sector has sustained its growth streak, concerns about slowing momentum have emerged in recent months, according to local newspaper The Business Times.

"Global trade uncertainty persists, arising from heightened risks of ongoing geopolitical and trade tensions, and this could lead to costly supply chain disruptions," he said.

DBS economist Han Teng Chua warned that further uncertainty in global trade policy, particularly the potential for higher U.S. tariffs on a broader range of trading partners, could add to the sector's vulnerabilities. Enditem

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