Singapore - Agriculture

Agriculture

Last published date: 2024-01-05

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 the Environment and Water Resources, 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. While trade contacts report Singapore can be strict on sanitary and phytosanitary issues, the country maintains a liberal and open trade system. Singapore does not impose quotas and tariffs on imported food and agricultural products (except tobacco)). Singapore’s total agricultural product imports in 2022 reached $17.2 billion USD, roughly nine percent of which was sourced from the United States (source: Trade Data Monitor). Global events such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic 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 percent of the country’s nutritional needs locally by 2030.

Singapore is also a leader in “novel foods,” which according to SFA, constitutes foods and food ingredients that do not have a history of safe use. 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 cover risks such as toxicity, allergenicity, safety of its production methods, and dietary exposure arising from consumption. A copy of the July 2023 safety assessment document is available in pdf.

Table: Agriculture Market Size, million USD
	2020	2021	2022	2023 estimated
Total Local Production	117	138	150	168
Total Exports	13,699	15,392	15,776	16,091
Total Imports	13,254	15,657	17,136	18,678
Imports from the US	1,353	1,549	1,703	1,856
Total Market Size	-328	403	1,510	2,755
Exchange Rates	1.39	1.35	1.38	1.33

Units: $ millions
Source: Trade Data Monitor, Singapore Food Agency

Leading Sub-Sectors

Product Category (2022)	Major Supply Sources (2022)	Foreign Supplier Situation	Local Supplier Situation
Beef and Beef Products Net Imports: $351 million	1. Brazil: 32% 2. Australia: 24% 3. United States: 5% 4. Japan: 8%	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).	Singapore does not produce beef.
Pork and Pork Products Net Imports: $335 million	Brazil: 42% Germany: 13% Australia: 11% Spain: 9% China: 7% Netherlands: 5% United States: 4%	Brazil dominates the frozen segment. Australian pork dominates the fresh/chilled market due to closed proximity. U.S. processed pork is growing in popularity.	Live pigs from Indonesia are imported and slaughtered. Most of the locally slaughtered meat is sold at wet/traditional markets and supermarkets.
Poultry Meat and Products Net Imports: $610 million	1. Brazil: 58% 2. Thailand: 23% 3. United States: 5% 4. Malaysia: 5%	Brazilian poultry is currently one of the most price competitive in the Singaporean market.	Malaysian live chickens are imported and processed in-country.
Dairy Products Net Imports: $1.32 billion	1. New Zealand: 29% 2. Australia: 13% 3. United States: 9% 4. Thailand: 6% 5. Netherlands: 5%	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 the domestic consumers. Their products are generally cheaper.
Fresh Fruit Net Imports: $566 million	1. China: 15% 2. Malaysia: 14% 3. Australia: 13% 4. United States: 11%	Top U.S. fresh fruits in the Singapore market include grapes, oranges, strawberries, and apples.	Singapore produces very little fresh fruit.
Processed Fruit Net Imports: $152 million	1. China: 21% 2. Indonesia: 12% 3. Malaysia: 11% 4. United States: 10%	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.
Tree Nuts Net Imports: $165 million	1. Malaysia: 23% 2. Indonesia: 20 % 3. United States: 14% 4. Thailand: 11%	Along with cashews from neighboring countries, U.S. nuts are very popular. Some U.S. nuts are repacked and sold under local brands.	Singapore is not a major producer of edible nuts.
Wine and Beer Net Imports: $993 million	1. France: 61% 2. Australia: 11% 3. Italy: 4% 4. Japan: 3% 5. United States: 3%	France dominates the premium wine market. U.S. wines are growing in popularity.	Singapore does not produce wine. Asia Pacific Breweries (APB), Singapore’s largest beer manufacturer, dominates the beer market.

Product Category (2022)

Major Supply Sources (2022)

Foreign Supplier Situation

Local Supplier Situation

Beef and Beef Products

Net Imports:

$351 million

1. Brazil: 32%

2. Australia: 24%

3. United States: 5%

4. Japan: 8%

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).

Singapore does not produce beef.

Pork and Pork Products

Net Imports:

$335 million

Brazil: 42%
Germany: 13%
Australia: 11%
Spain: 9%
China: 7%
Netherlands: 5%
United States: 4%

Brazil dominates the frozen segment.

Australian pork dominates the fresh/chilled market due to closed proximity.

U.S. processed pork is growing in popularity.

Live pigs from Indonesia are imported and slaughtered. Most of the locally slaughtered meat is sold at wet/traditional markets and supermarkets.

Poultry Meat and Products

Net Imports:

$610 million

1. Brazil: 58%

2. Thailand: 23%

3. United States: 5%

4. Malaysia: 5%

Brazilian poultry is currently one of the most price competitive in the Singaporean market.

Malaysian live chickens are imported and processed in-country.

Dairy Products

Net Imports:

$1.32 billion

1. New Zealand: 29%

2. Australia: 13%

3. United States: 9%

4. Thailand: 6%

5. Netherlands: 5%

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 the domestic consumers. Their products are generally cheaper.

Fresh Fruit

Net Imports:

$566 million

1. China: 15%

2. Malaysia: 14%

3. Australia: 13%

4. United States: 11%

Top U.S. fresh fruits in the Singapore market include grapes, oranges, strawberries, and apples.

Singapore produces very little fresh fruit.

Processed Fruit

Net Imports:

$152 million

1. China: 21%

2. Indonesia: 12%

3. Malaysia: 11%

4. United States: 10%

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.

Tree Nuts

Net Imports:

$165 million

1. Malaysia: 23%

2. Indonesia: 20 %

3. United States: 14%

4. Thailand: 11%

Along with cashews from neighboring countries, U.S. nuts are very popular. Some U.S. nuts are repacked and sold under local brands.

Singapore is not a major producer of edible nuts.

Wine and Beer

Net Imports:

$993 million

1. France: 61%

2. Australia: 11%

3. Italy: 4%

4. Japan: 3%

5. United States: 3%

France dominates the premium wine market. U.S. wines are growing in popularity.

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 climate change, inflation, and geopolitics have brought a wave of change to many sectors, including the food and beverage 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 because of the COVID-19 situation. The pandemic has also significantly increased the focus on foods with functional nutrients.

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. There was a 12 percent increase in imports of U.S. dairy products from $105 million in 2021 to $118 million* in 2022. Preceded by the top two suppliers of New Zealand and Australia, the United States was the third largest exporter of dairy products to Singapore in 2022. Local consumer demand for various dairy products has grown in recent years.

Fresh Fruit

The United States continued to perform well in the Singaporean fresh fruit market in 2022, as the number four supplier preceded by China, Australia, and Malaysia. Imports of U.S. fresh fruit reached $59 million last year. Singaporean traders and retailers report that the reliable supply of high-quality products along with brand recognition are driving the strong demand for U.S. fresh fruit in the market. The top four most popular U.S. fresh fruit in Singapore in 2022 were grapes, strawberries, oranges, and apples.

Processed Fruit

The United States is an important player in the processed fruit sector. Imports of U.S. processed fruit reached $15.4 million in 2022. The U.S. was the third largest exporter of processed fruit in 2022, preceded by China and Indonesia, Malaysia dropped to the number four position last year.

Processed Vegetables

U.S. exports of processed vegetables were higher in 2022, at $65 million compared with $61 million in 2021. The United States has continued to perform well in this category as the number two supplier after China in recent years. In addition to affordability and convenience, health consciousness amongst consumers plays a role in the relatively stable demand for this product.

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 $19.6 million in 2016 to $52 million in 2022. There was a 26% increase in imports of U.S. beef from $41 million in 2021 to $52 million in 2022. The United States has been the third largest supplier after Brazil and Australia since 2017. 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.

*Source: Trade Data Monitor