Singapore is the EU’s largest trade and investment partner; a Singapore-EU Free Trade Agreement will be ratified in 2015. In 2014, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland organised a four-day trade and investment mission to Singapore and Malaysia, resulting in contracts worth €25 million.
Sources: Enterprise Ireland, European Commission, GOV.UK, World Bank
For more detailed information when trading with Singapore, download our Singapore Fact Sheet.
Number of Service Centres: 4
DHL Delivery Zone: 7
Vehicle Fleet: 253
| Singapore: Country Profile | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Population: | 5.6 million | EXPORTS FROM SINGAPORE Exports fromSingapore: |
US$ 442.9 billion (2013 est.) |
| Area: | 697 sq km | Export Commodities: | Machinery and equipment (including electronics and telecommunications), pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, refined petroleum products, food and beverages |
| Currency: | 1 Singapore dollar (SGD) = 100 cent | Top Export Destinations: | USA, Malaysia, Australia, India, Germany, China, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, UK, Indonesia |
| GDP: | US$ 339 billion (2013 est.) | IMPORTS INTO SINGAPORE | |
| Time Zones: | UTC+8, no daylight savings time observed | Imports into Singapore: |
US$ 380.3 billion (2013 est.) |
| Languages: | Mandarin (official), English (official), Hokkien, Tamil (official), Cantonese, Teochew, Malay (official), other Chinese dialects, other | Import Commodities: | Machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs, consumer goods |
| Ethnic Groups: | Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.3%, Indian 9.2%, other 3.3% | Top Import Origins: | USA, Germany, China, Australia, UK, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, New Zealand |
| Transit Times | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Destination | Non-Dutiable | Dutiable | |
| Singapore (all destinations) | 2 days | 2 days | |
DHL can assist you with trading with Singapore. Contact the DHL team on 1890 725 725
DHL Customer Services is also available on 1890 725 725
SGD 400
Singapore’s General Sales Tax rate is based on 7% of commercial invoice value for all shipments with a Cost Insurance Freight (CIF) value exceeding SGD 400. Import duty only applies to intoxicating liqueurs, tobacco products, motor vehicles and petroleum products. Excise duty applies on excisable goods, i.e. alcohol and tabacco.
Document shipments weighing over 30 kg and printed materials with a commercial value or meant for mass distribution must be shipped as goods.
Certain items will be subject to inspection by and/or require approval from the following Singapore government bodies/agencies: Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), Media Development Authority (MDA)
The list below is in addition to DHL’s standard list of prohibited items.
Alcoholic beverages
Dutiable regardless of CIF. Invoice must state bottles per shipment, alcohol strength, brand name, bottle volume. Wine: specify if sparkling or still.
Animal products & foodstuffs, including grain samples
Receiver to obtain import licence/ approval from Singapore’s AVA.
Animal skins
If unprocessed: provide Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) certificate from country of origin.
Audio cassette tapes, hardback or paperback books for non-commercial use, journals, magazines, newspapers & periodicals
Provide title list. May be inspected by Singapore’s MDA.
Cash letters (NI), cheques (NI): blank/cancelled/cashier, credit cards (NI) & credit card blanks (NI)
Not acceptable if activated and/or in bearer form.
Cologne and perfume, soil samples & telecommunications equipment
Approval from Singapore’s AVA and proper packaging required.
Communications equipment including phones & modems, radar equipment including transmitters & receivers
Subject to approval from Singapore’s IDA. Mass distribution: importer to provide import licence.
Cosmetics, drugs: prescription, including oral dental chewing gums & drugs: non-prescription
Receiver to obtain approval/import license from Singapore’s HSA. Private individuals: provide doctor’s prescription for contents. Drugs/medicines: invoice must state name, brand, quantity per bottle, weight of each capsule, reason for import & product composition.
Diplomatic mail
Can be shipped as documents regardless of weight.
Electronic games
Receiver to confirm the item is on Singapores MDA approved list of games.
Films, including entertainment films: 8mm, 16mm & 35mm, video cassettes, DVDs & laser discs
Submit title list to Singapore’s MDA for approval.
Films: promotional / training, including industrial advertising and promotion materials for internal company use
Receiver to provide declaration to Singapore’s MDA.
Medical samples
For personal consumption: receiver to provide doctor’s prescription. For retail purposes: receiver to obtain import licence from Singapore’s Drug Administration Department.
Oil products, bunker oil samples (for analysis), coal & firewood
Flashpoint must be above 60.5°C. Contact DHL Customer Services before shipping.
Perishables
Receiver to obtain import permit from relevant government authorities prior to shipping. Contact DHL Customer Services before shipping.
Plants & plant products including seeds & cotton seeds
Shipper to provide Phytosanitary Certificate.
Tobacco
Dutiable regardless of CIF but not controlled. Invoice must state number of packages in shipment or weight per shipment, brand name and numbers of sticks per package.
Toy guns / pistols / revolvers
Import controlled by Singapore’s State Police, Arms & Explosives Licensing Division. State ‘TOY GUNS’ on Waybill and commercial invoice. Provide document proof by manufacturer confirming the product is a toy and not a replica of a real firearm.
X-ray machines
Destination importer or receiver to obtain licenses from Singapore’s HSA.
For military equipment and strategic goods & technology (including ‘dual-use’ goods with both civilian and sensitive military applications) machines please contact DHL Customer Services before shipping.
