Overview
As a highly urbanized country with little local agricultural production, Singapore is almost entirely dependent upon imports for its food requirements. Singapore’s food laws are therefore focused on ensuring consistent foreign supply of safe food and agricultural products. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA), a statutory board under the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, is responsible for all food-related regulations in the country. Established on April 1, 2019, SFA oversees food safety and food security matters in Singapore. Singapore has high standards for sanitary and phytosanitary issues and maintains a liberal and open trade system. Singapore does not impose quotas and tariffs on imported food and agricultural products (except tobacco). However, Singapore levies an excise duty on alcoholic beverages.
Singapore’s total agricultural product imports in 2023 reached US$16.6 billion, roughly 7% of which was sourced from the United States (source: Trade Data Monitor). Global events have underscored the importance of food security, and by extension, a robust supply chain. As part of the “30 by 30” vision, the Singaporean government (in 2019) set the target of producing 30% of the country’s nutritional needs locally by 2030.
Singapore is also a leader in “novel foods,” which according to SFA, are defined as “food and ingredients that do not have a history of use for human consumption”, and with a history of use being defined as a period of 20 years. Novel foods may also include compounds that are chemically identical to naturally occurring substances but produced through advances in technology. Examples include “plant-based” and “cultured” (lab-grown) meat. In fact, Singapore gave the world’s first regulatory approval to sell lab-grown meat commercially in 2020. Singapore requires companies to seek pre-market approval for novel foods by submitting safety assessments on the product to identify risks and ensure that they are properly managed. A copy of the July 2023 Requirements for the Safety Assessment of Novel Food and Novel Food Ingredients is available. The final product, as with other imported food for sale in the country, must meet the requirements under Singapore’s Food Regulations.
Table 1: Singapore’s Agriculture Market Size, million USD
2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 estimated | |
Total Exports | 15,776 | 14,705 | 15,225 | 13,703 |
Total Imports | 17,136 | 16,590 | 16,489 | 14,840 |
Imports from the US | 1,703 | 1,172 | 1,007 | 906.3 |
Trade Surplus/Deficit | Deficit | Deficit | Deficit | Deficit |
Exchange Rates | 1.38 | 1.34 | 1.33 | 1.34 |
Units: $ millions
Source: Trade Data Monitor
Table 2: Leading Singapore Agricultural Sub-Sectors
Product Category 2024 | Major Supply Sources 2024 | Foreign Supplier Situation | Local Supplier Situation |
|---|---|---|---|
Beef and Beef Products Net Imports: US$ 348 million | 1. Brazil: 28% 2. Australia: 27% 3. United States: 18% 4. Japan: 7% | Australia & New Zealand are traditional suppliers. Brazil competes in the frozen beef segment. As of January 2023, there is greater market access for U.S. meat in Singapore resulting from changes to the Singapore Food Regulations increasing the allowed number of Pathogen Reduction Treatments (PRTs). U.S. beef export increased significantly from US$45 million in 2023 to US$63 million in 2024. | Singapore does not produce beef. |
Pork and Pork Products Net Imports: US$ 467 million |
| Brazil dominates the frozen segment. Australian pork dominates the fresh/chilled market due to closed proximity. U.S. processed pork is growing in popularity. | Singapore currently sources live pigs from Sarawak in East Malaysia. The Pig Farming Area (PFA) at Pasir Putih was specifically established to meet Singapore’s import requirements, with modern biosecurity and waste management systems in place. Farms within this PFA, like Green Breeder, undergo audits to ensure they continue to meet Singapore’s standards. |
Poultry Meat and Products Net Imports: US$ 582 million | 1. Brazil: 50% 2. Thailand: 28% 3. China: 5% 4. Malaysia: 5% 5. United States: 4% | Brazilian poultry is currently one of the most price competitive in the Singaporean market. | Malaysian live chickens are imported and processed in-country. While Singapore has diversified its sources, Malaysia remains a key supplier of live chickens, including broiler, kampung and black chickens. |
Dairy Products Net Imports: US$ 1.06 billion | 1. New Zealand: 28% 2. Australia: 15% 3. Thailand: 8% 4. United States: 7%
| New Zealand and Australia are traditional suppliers of dairy products. There has been a greater demand for health and wellness products and beverages in recent years. | Local dairy companies are strong competitors and have brand/name familiarity with domestic consumers. Their products are generally cheaper. |
Fresh Fruit Net Imports: US$ 598 million | 1. China: 20% 2. Malaysia: 13% 3. Australia: 13% 4. United States: 8% 5. South Africa: 8% | Top U.S. fresh fruits in the Singapore market include grapes, oranges, strawberries, and apples. | Singapore produces very little fresh fruit. Some farms are experimenting with growing fruits like strawberries, melons, and pineapples using innovative methods, though production numbers are small. |
Processed Fruit Net Imports: US$ 148 million | 1. China: 22% 2. Malaysia: 11% 3. Indonesia: 10% 4. United States: 9% 5. Thailand: 9% | U.S. processed fruits are very popular; some are repacked and sold as private local brands. | Singapore is not a significant producer of processed fruit. Most of the raw fruits used for processing are imported from neighboring countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, with Singapore focusing on manufacturing and exporting value-added products. |
Tree Nuts Net Imports: US$ 163 million | 1. Malaysia: 23% 2. Indonesia: 18 % 3. United States: 15% 4. China: 11% | Along with cashews from neighboring countries, U.S. nuts (especially almonds) are very popular. Some U.S. nuts are repacked and sold under local brands. | Singapore is not a major producer of edible nuts. Most of the nuts are imported in raw form and then processed, roasted or flavored in Singapore for retail. Popular nut brands include NTUC FairPrice, Thong Garden, Camel and Tai Sun. |
Wine and Beer Net Imports: US$ 840 million | 1. France: 63% 2. Australia: 7% 3. Italy: 4% 4. United States: 4% 5. Japan: 2% | France dominates the premium wine market. U.S. wines are growing in popularity especially California wines, particularly those from Napa Valley. In Singapore, Carlsberg (Denmark) and Heineken (Netherlands) are the most popular foreign brands. | Singapore does not produce wine. Asia Pacific Breweries (APB), Singapore’s largest beer manufacturer, dominates the beer market. |
Data Sources: Trade Data Monitor
Opportunities
Global events, such as inflation, global supply, and geopolitics have brought a wave of change to many sectors, including the food and beverage (F&B) sector. Though concerns remain regarding declining purchasing power and possible disruptions to supply chains, there are also emerging opportunities. The health and wellness industry continues to gain force as more consumers are seeking healthier food products and practices that support a healthy lifestyle. Singapore’s F&B scene in 2025 is anticipated to be characterized by a focus on health, innovation, and sustainability. Products enriched with probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and herbal extracts are gaining popularity, targeting specific health concerns such as digestive health, heart health, and cognitive function. Sustainability will increasingly be a key consideration for more F&B businesses, from sourcing ingredients responsibly and reducing their carbon footprint to using eco-friendly packaging and minimizing waste.
Dairy Products
Dairy products are well-positioned to expand based on the demand for functional and healthy food. For example, yogurt and cheese containing probiotics and milk containing omega-3 fatty acids are in the forefront for the development of functional foods. However, with a competitive market, there was a 15% decrease imports of U.S. dairy products from US$86 million in 2023 to US$73 million in 2024, coinciding with a slight market share decrease as well. According to the IMARC group, the Singaporean dairy market is projected to exhibit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.50% during 2024-2032.
Beef
U.S. beef exports to Singapore have been increasing steadily since 2016, following the agreement between the United States and Singapore in 2015, restoring greater market access for U.S. beef and beef products in the country. In fact, U.S. beef exports increased significantly from US$19.6 million in 2016 to US$63 million in 2024. The United States has been the third largest supplier after Brazil and Australia since 2017, surpassing major beef producing countries such as New Zealand, Japan, and Argentina. U.S. exporters significantly improved market access for U.S. meat products in January 2023 following changes to Singapore’s Food Regulations which increased the number of allowed Pathogen Reduction Treatments (PRTs) for raw meat. Details can be found in the Singapore Food Regulations no.27 A and under the 17th schedule.
Resources
Singapore Government
Singapore Ag-related businesses and associations
- Singapore Manufacturing Federation
- Singapore Business Federation
- Singapore Fruits and Vegetables Importers and Exporters Association
- Singapore Chefs Association
- Restaurants Association of Singapore
- Singapore Hotel Association
U.S. Government Resources
U.S business and trade Associations
- U.S. Dairy Export Council
- U.S. Grains Council
- U.S. Meat Export Federation
- USA Poultry and Egg Export Council
- U.S. Soybean Export Council
- U.S. Wheat Associates
- U.S. Wheat Associates
- California Wine Institute
- Food Export-Midwest, Food Export-Northeast, Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Singapore Contact
AgSingapore General Office Mailbox