Singapore - Agricultural SectorsSingapore - Agricultural Sectors
Overview
|
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 (estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total Market Size |
1,984 |
2,460 |
-763 |
2,466 |
|
Local Production |
168 (estimated |
183 (estimated) |
205 (estimated) |
216 (estimated) |
|
Exports |
7,160 |
7,437 |
10,908 |
8,250 |
|
Imports |
8,976 |
9,714 |
9,940 |
10,500 |
|
Import from U.S. |
821 |
948 |
922 |
940 |
|
Exchange Rate: 1USD |
1.38 |
1.38 |
1.35 |
1.35 |
$US millions (total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports)
Data Sources: Singapore Food Agency and Global Trade Atlas
The city-state of Singapore, with a population of 5.6 million, is a wealthy, developed and highly urbanized country. As there is little local agricultural production, Singapore is almost entirely dependent upon imports for its food requirements. The country’s economy is mainly driven by financial services, manufacturing, and tourism. As the country is highly import dependent for food security, Singapore’s food laws are focused on ensuring consistent foreign supply of food and agricultural products. While trade contacts report Singapore can be very 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 and alcoholic beverages). Singapore’s total agricultural product imports in 2018 reached $9.9 billion USD, roughly ten percent of which was sourced from the United States.
In April 2019, the Singapore Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority restructured to form the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the Singapore Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS). SFA is under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and oversees all food-related matters including food safety and security. AVS is under the National Parks Board (NParks) and oversees all non-food related animal, plant, and wildlife management matters.
Leading Sub-Sectors
| Product Category (2018) | Major Supply Sources (2018) | Foreign Supplier Situation | Local Supplier Situation |
|
Beef and Beef Products Net Imports: $253 million | 1. Australia: 33% 2. Brazil: 30% 3. United States: 12% 4.New Zealand: 8% | Australia & New Zealand are traditional suppliers. Brazil competes in the frozen beef segment. | Singapore does not produce beef. |
|
Pork and Pork Products Net Imports: $323 million | 1. Brazil:31% 2. Australia: 19% 3. Netherlands: 16% 4. China: 9% 5. Spain: 8% 6. United States: 4% | Brazil dominates the frozen segment. Australian pork dominates the fresh/chilled market due to close proximity. U.S. processed pork is growing in popularity. | Live pigs from Indonesia are imported and slaughtered meat is sold at wet/traditional markets and supermarkets. |
| Poultry Meat and Products Net Imports: $353 million | 1. Brazil: 52% 2. Thailand: 23% 3. United States: 8% 4. Malaysia: 7% | Brazilian poultry is currently price-competitive in the Singaporean market. | Malaysian live chickens are imported and slaughtered.ed |
| Fish Products Net Imports: $1.15 billion | 1. China: 13% 2. Malaysia: 12% 3. Vietnam: 10% 4. Indonesia: 10% 5. Norway: 7% 15. United States: 1.5% | ASEAN countries and China dominate the market. Fresh/chilled/ prawns, live crabs, frozen cuttlefish, and squid are key products. | 90% of seafood is imported. The remainder is supplied by sea-based Singaporean aquaculture operations. |
| Fresh Fruit Net Imports: $528 million | 1. Malaysia: 14% 2. United States: 13% 3. China: 12% 4. Australia: 11% | Top U.S. fresh fruits in the Singapore market include grapes, oranges, strawberries and apples; United States dominates sales of these fruits when in season. | Fruit production in Singapore is minimal. |
| Dried Fruit, Processed Fruit Net Imports: $73 million | 1. Indonesia: 43% 2. Thailand: 12% 3. Malaysia: 11% 4. United States: 10% | U.S. dried fruits are highly popular; some are repacked and sold as private local brands. | Singapore is not a significant producer of dried fruit. |
| Tree Nuts Net Imports: $220 million | 1. Indonesia: 48% 2. Malaysia: 15% 3. United States: 10% 4. India: 6% | Along with cashews from neighbouring 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: $812 million | 1. France: 59% 2. Australia: 9% 3. Italy:3% 4. 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. |
Opportunities
Dairy Products
Prospects are bright for U.S. dairy product sales to Singapore due to the growing local food retail and processing industries. There was a nearly 24% increase in imports of U.S. dairy products from $56 million in 2017 to $69 million in 2018. Preceded by the top two suppliers of New Zealand and Australia, the U.S. was the third largest exporter of dairy products to Singapore in 2018. Local consumer demand for several dairy products has grown in recent years with gourmet cheeses and yogurt doing particularly well.
Fresh Fruit
The U.S. continued to perform well in the Singaporean fresh fruit market in 2018 as the number two supplier after Malaysia. Imports of U.S. fresh fruit reached $73 million in 2018, an increase of 3% compared to 2017. Singaporean traders and retailers report reliable supply of high-quality product and brand recognition are driving strong demand for U.S. fresh fruit in the market. The most popular U.S. fresh fruit in Singapore are grapes, oranges, strawberries, berries and apples.
Dried Fruit
According to Global Trade Atlas, the U.S. was the fourth largest supplier of dried fruit to Singapore in 2018, after Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. U.S. exports for the year were at $7.5 million while Indonesia exports reached $31 million. The United States’ relatively small market share along with growing demand for U.S. product in the local confectionary, bakery and retail industries indicate there is strong potential to expand sales of U.S. dried fruit in Singapore.
Pork
U.S. pork exports to Singapore decreased last year by almost 30% from $17 million in 2017 to $12 million in 2018. This was in contrast to the almost 34% increase in 2017 from the previous year. However, the long-term prospects are relatively good as pork is a major protein source for the majority of the local population and demand in high-end retail and restaurant outlets (where U.S. pork has an advantage) is growing.
Wine and Beer
Exports of U.S. wine and beer to Singapore increased last year by over 7% from $25 million in 2017 to almost $28 million in 2018. The United States has a reputation for being a good supplier of quality beverage products and has high brand recognition. However, French products tend to dominate the premium wine sector, and Australia dominates the retail market with its mass-market products. U.S. brands compete in both the mass and premium wine markets as their recognition continues to grow. U.S. craft beer is also growing in popularity in Singapore.
Web Resources
Singapore Food Agency
Animal & Veterinary Service
Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF)
Singapore Business Federation
Singapore Fruits and Vegetables Importers and Exporters Association (SFVA)
Singapore Chefs Association (SCA)
Restaurant Association of Singapore (RSA)
Singapore Hotel Association (SHA)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Singapore Contacts
Mr. William Verzani, Agricultural Attaché
Email: William.Verzani@fas.usda.gov
Ms. Ira Sugita, Agricultural Specialist
Email: Ira.Sugita@fas.usda.gov
Ms. Alice Kwek, Agricultural Marketing Specialist
Email: alice.kwek@fas.usda.gov