A sovereign island city-state located in Southeast Asia, the Republic of Singapore imported US$328.8 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -8.4% from $359 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Singapore’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Singaporean imports during 2020 for each of Singapore’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for well over two-thirds (72.1%) of total Singaporean import purchases.

Singaporean importers benefit from Singapore’s proximity to other Southeast Asian countries notably Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and China.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Singaporean imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Singapore’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Singapore amounted to $47.4 billion or 14.4% of overall Singaporean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -3.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.2% of Singapore’s imports from the mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $19.9 billion
Machinery: $10.4 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $4.9 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.4 billion
Organic chemicals: $986.8 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $815.1 million
Iron or steel products: $745.2 million
Plastics: $727.3 million
Gems, precious metals: $695 million
Other chemical goods: $491.2 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $437.7 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $379.1 million
Iron and steel: $340.7 million
Aluminum: $328.6 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $275 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Singaporean imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 729.7% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 155.4%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (up 49.2%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 27.9%), medical or technical equipment (up 18%) and organic chemicals (up 11.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Singapore’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -36.4%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -34.3%), mineral fuels including oil (down -32.6%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -11.3%), products made from iron or steel (down -11.1%) then aluminum (down -9.6%).

Singapore’s Main Imports from Malaysia

In 2020, Malaysia’s exports to Singapore amounted to $41.7 billion or 12.7% of overall Singaporean imports.

That dollar amount represents a flatlining 0.1% increase compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.5% of Singapore’s imports from Malaysia.

Electronic equipment: $16.5 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $8.8 billion
Machinery: $6.3 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.9 billion
Plastics: $782.1 million
Vehicles: $523.4 million
Iron or steel products: $478.1 million
Gems, precious metals: $476.7 million
Stone, plaster, cement: $378.8 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $375.6 million
Other chemical goods: $276.3 million
Paper: $245.6 million
Aluminum: $233.2 million
Organic chemicals: $230.4 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $215.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Singaporean imports from Malaysia under the machinery product category via a 31% gain in revenue, medical or technical equipment (up 19.2%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 15.7%) then electronic equipment (up 12.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Singapore’s top 15 imported products were gems and precious metals (down -44.6%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -23.1%), organic chemicals (down -22.1%), mineral fuels including oil (down -22%), products made from iron or steel (down -19.2%) and aluminum (down -15.5%).

Singapore’s Main Imports from Taiwan

In 2020, Taiwan’s exports to Singapore amounted to $36.3 billion or 11% of overall Singaporean imports.

That dollar amount represents a 12.1% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 98.6% of Singapore’s imports from Taiwan.

Electronic equipment: $31.5 billion
Machinery: $2.1 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $646.3 million
Other chemical goods: $568.3 million
Organic chemicals: $186.3 million
Plastics: $177.9 million
Medical, technical equipment: $167.6 million
Iron and steel: $95.3 million
Iron or steel products: $70 million
Gems, precious metals: $62.9 million
Copper: $48.7 million
Vehicles: $48.1 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $41.2 million
Photo/cinematographic goods: $39.6 million
Paper: $36.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Singaporean imports from Taiwan under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 532.7% gain in revenue, organic chemicals (up 50.3%), electronic equipment (up 21.6%) then photo or cinematographic goods (up 16.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Singapore’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -61.1%), medical or technical equipment (down -35%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -32.5%), gems and precious metals (down -17.3%), paper (down -15.2%) then iron and steel as materials (down -14%).

Singapore’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, United States’ exports to Singapore amounted to $35.2 billion or 10.7% of overall Singaporean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -20% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 92.2% of Singapore’s imports from America.

Machinery: $13.4 billion
Electronic equipment: $4.4 billion
Aircraft, spacecraft: $3.2 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $3 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.9 billion
Plastics: $1.4 billion
Other chemical goods: $1.1 billion
Gems, precious metals: $856.3 million
Organic chemicals: $783.1 million
Pharmaceuticals: $627.4 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $487.2 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $464.4 million
Iron or steel products: $312.6 million
Rubber: $216.9 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $204.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Singaporean imports from the United States under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category via a 148.2% gain in revenue then gems and precious metals (up 46.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Singapore’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -51%), rubber (down -26.4%), organic chemicals (down -23.3%), machinery (down -22.6%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -22.5%) then products made from iron or steel (down -14.4%).

Singapore’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Singapore amounted to $18.1 billion or 5.5% of overall Singaporean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -6.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 86.9% of Singapore’s imports from Japan.

Electronic equipment: $5.3 billion
Machinery: $3.4 billion
Gems, precious metals: $2.1 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $942.6 million
Vehicles: $720.7 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $698 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $534.2 million
Other chemical goods: $458.9 million
Plastics: $422.1 million
Iron and steel: $297.8 million
Iron or steel products: $279.5 million
Organic chemicals: $215.6 million
Glass: $173.3 million
Photo/cinematographic goods: $141.1 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $133.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Singaporean imports from Japan under the glass product category via a 233.1% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 45.9%) then perfumes and cosmetics (up 10.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Singapore’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -45.8%), tanning or dyeing extracts (down -29%), products made from iron or steel (down -12.6%), machinery (down -11.7%), photo or cinematographic goods (down -10.7%) then electronic equipment (down -9.9%).

Singapore’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Singapore amounted to $15.6 billion or 4.7% of overall Singaporean imports.

That dollar amount represents a 13.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 95.6% of Singapore’s imports from South Korea.

Electronic equipment: $9.9 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.8 billion
Machinery: $1.1 billion
Gems, precious metals: $570.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $453.7 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $243.7 million
Plastics: $166.2 million
Iron or steel products: $156 million
Other chemical goods: $131.7 million
Organic chemicals: $104.8 million
Iron and steel: $101 million
Vehicles: $86.1 million
Inorganic chemicals: $49.2 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $40.8 million
Other food preparations: $30.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Singaporean imports from South Korea under the gems and precious metals product category via a 135.2% gain in revenue, medical or technical equipment (up 118.8%), soaps, lubricants and candles (up 99.9%), electronic equipment (up 41.8%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 19.9%) and miscellaneous food preparations (up 14.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Singapore’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -59.5%), mineral fuels including oil (down -42.9%), products made from iron or steel (down -24%), organic chemicals (down -13%) then iron and steel as materials (down -9.4%).

Singapore’s Main Imports from Indonesia

In 2020, Indonesia’s exports to Singapore amounted to $14 billion or 4.2% of overall Singaporean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -10.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 84.7% of Singapore’s imports from Indonesia.

Gems, precious metals: $3.1 billion
Electronic equipment: $2.9 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $2.3 billion
Machinery: $1.2 billion
Paper: $493.6 million
Woodpulp: $268.6 million
Tobacco: $237.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $228.5 million
Tin: $187.7 million
Vehicles: $174.9 million
Other chemical goods: $171.9 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $166.8 million
Iron or steel products: $155.7 million
Other food preparations: $150.8 million
Plastics: $141.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Singaporean imports from Indonesia under the items made from iron or steel product category via a 24.9% gain in revenue, miscellaneous food preparations (up 20%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 11.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Singapore’s top 15 imported products were tin (down -49%), mineral fuels including oil (down -29.8%), woodpulp (down -23.8%), vehicles (down -11.2%) then gems and precious metals (down -10.8%).

Singapore’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Singapore amounted to $10.2 billion or 3.1% of overall Singaporean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -16% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.5% of Singapore’s imports from France.

Perfumes, cosmetics: $1.79 billion
Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.77 billion
Beverages: $1.12 billion
Electronic equipment: $1.08 billion
Leather, animal gut articles: $875.9 million
Gems, precious metals: $846.6 million
Machinery: $734.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $600.4 million
Other chemical goods: $306.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $219.8 million
Plastics: $119.3 million
Organic chemicals: $68.4 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $56.4 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $41.6 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $38.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Singaporean imports from France under the gems and precious metals product category via a 24.6% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 19.6%) and plastics as a material (up 12.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Singapore’s top 15 imported products were aircraft, spacecraft: (down -42.2%), machinery: (down -31.3%), medical, technical equipment: (down -29.2%), beverages: (down -15.4%), clothing (not knit or crochet): (down -12.2%) and leather, animal gut articles: (down -11.3%).

Singapore’s Main Imports from Thailand

In 2020, Thailand’s exports to Singapore amounted to $9.8 billion or 3% of overall Singaporean imports.

That dollar amount represents a 27.8% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 92.3% of Singapore’s imports from Thailand.

Gems, precious metals: $3.3 billion
Electronic equipment: $2.7 billion
Machinery: $1.3 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $743.3 million
Meat, seafood preparations: $129.3 million
Cereals: $129.2 million
Plastics: $122.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $109.2 million
Vehicles: $101 million
Organic chemicals: $95.7 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $94.7 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $79.2 million
Other chemical goods: $53.4 million
Sugar: $51.9 million
Rubber: $51.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Singaporean imports from Thailand under the gems and precious metals product category via a 398.6% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 77.2%), cereals (up 27.7%), dairy, eggs and honey (up 18.9%), perfumes and cosmetics (up 15.5%) then electronic equipment (up 12.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Singapore’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -46.9%), vehicles (down -43.1%), sugar (down -21.9%) then organic chemicals (down -14%).

Singapore’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Singapore amounted to $8.8 billion or 2.7% of overall Singaporean imports.

That dollar amount represents a -10.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.6% of Singapore’s imports from Germany.

Electronic equipment: $2.2 billion
Machinery: $2.1 billion
Vehicles: $901 million
Medical, technical equipment: $800.2 million
Pharmaceuticals: $443.8 million
Organic chemicals: $256.3 million
Plastics: $219.4 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $195.6 million
Other chemical goods: $180.6 million
Iron or steel products: $134.5 million
Copper: $117.7 million
Inorganic chemicals: $114.3 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $93.7 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $86.6 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $70 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Singaporean imports from Germany under the copper product category via a 26.2% gain in revenue and electronic equipment (up 8.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Singapore’s top 15 imported products were aircraft and spacecraft (down -58%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -53.5%), vehicles (down -24.3%), tanning or dyeing extracts (down -23.6%), inorganic chemicals (down -21.4%) then base metal tools and cutlery (down -14%).

References

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Singapore, Borders of Singapore.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Singapore’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries