Discusses pricing formula and other fees, value-added tax (VAT), etc.
Last Published: 6/13/2019

Pricing is very competitive in Singapore. Major department stores and retail chains offer fixed-price merchandise, while the smaller shops expect buyers to bargain.  Hard bargaining is common in the commercial and industrial sectors as well, where buyers usually expect a discount, and vendors inflate their initial offers accordingly. Credit terms of 30-60-90 days are common. Buyers will often retain 10% of the sales price for major electronic equipment purchases until the vendor has installed the machine, and it is performing according to specifications.

Typical Product Pricing Structures: Depending on the type of product, importer mark-ups range from 20-40%, while retail mark-ups are often more than 100%. Industrial goods are brought in by stocking distributors, who add on at least 20% before sale to end-users, or by agents whose commissions generally run about 7-10%.  These mark-ups are approximate, and will vary widely, depending on the product and the contractual relationship in question.

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