Singapore Customs Brokerage Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Singapore Customs Brokerage Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The Singaporean customs brokerage market is expected to witness a CAGR of over 6% during the forecast period 2022-2027.

The impact of COVID-19 was so bad that the port had to be on the verge of closure due to lockdowns, and it badly impacted the customs brokerage market, but on the parallel side, the air cargo grew due to a spurge in urgent demand for PPE, medical supplies and vaccines which were in need of the hour for the vaccination drive program, this helped the customs brokerage to thrive. As the lockdowns were lifted, there was a growth in the exports and imports from Singapore, while sea cargo took the major chunk of the cargo logistics, creating a demand for customs brokerage in the later stage.

The Singaporean Customs Brokerage Market is seeing exceptional growth, and the future of the market is likely to be significant. Singapore is the world's busiest transshipment hub that is well-connected to 600 ports in over 120 countries. It has also consistently topped the Leading Maritime Capitals of the World report. It serves as an entry point for worldwide leaders in ship finance, ship broking, risk management, and marine insurance. Singapore, using its strategic position, sophisticated port infrastructure, and shipyards, has grown into a prominent International Maritime Centre (IMC) where ships dock and vital ancillary services in shipping, trade, and logistics thrive.

Changi International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports for international air cargo, processing nearly 1.97 million metric tonnes per year, with transshipment volume accounting for about half of total throughput and is therefore considered a worldwide air cargo hub. Designed to move cargo like clockwork round the clock, the cold chain facilities, warehouses, and offices at Changi Airfreight Centre (CAC), coupled with the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore (ALPS), are well equipped to cater to all operational needs.

Singapore raised its 2021 trade forecasts for the fourth time amid better-than-expected performance, robust global semiconductor demand, and higher oil prices. However, export growth is forecast to ease sharply in 2022 due to the high base in 2021 and as the economic recovery for Singapore's key trade partners slows.

Singapore's key trade partners, including China, United States, and Eurozone, are expected to see their growth ease from 2021's pace, though ASEAN and Japan are forecast to grow faster in 2022, having seen their recovery disrupted in 2021. Supply-side issues such as semiconductor shortages and port backlogs may strain supply chains and weigh on trade, though these are unlikely to have a large impact on overall global trade flows.

Singapore's total goods trade increased by 19.1% in the third quarter of 2021, following a 27.3% increase in the second quarter of 2021. Non-oil commerce climbed by 14.6%, but oil trade surged by 50%, owing to higher oil prices compared to a year before, i.e., 2020. Non-electronic product exports increased by 7.1%Y-o-Y in the third quarter, following an 8.5% growth in the second quarter. Specialized machinery increased by 52.8%, petrochemicals increased by 43.8%, and pharmaceuticals increased by 20.4%. Meanwhile, electronics exports increased for the sixth consecutive quarter. They grew 15.3% Y-o-Y in the third quarter, continuing the previous quarter's 15.7% increase. The most significant contributors to the growth in electronic Nodx were integrated circuits, personal computers, diodes, and transistors.

This surge in trade of imports and exports has accelerated the customs brokerage in the seaports and airports of Singapore.

Singapore has retained its position as the world's second-busiest container port and the number one bunkering port in 2020, as well as facilitated crew change for more than 80,000 seafarers amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Port of Singapore has bounced back from a pandemic-induced slowdown, handling more cargo in the first five months of 2021 than in the same periods of 2020 and 2019.

Container throughput in Singapore declined by 0.9% in 2020 due to overseas port closures, shipping delays, and a worldwide container scarcity. Singapore's port grew by 4.6% from January to May 2021 as compared to 2020 and by 3.9% when compared to 2019 prior to the pandemic. Container throughput increased by 4.6% from January to May 2021 when compared to the same period in 2020 and by 3.9% when compared to the same time in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

The investment pipeline for Singapore's maritime sector has also remained healthy amid the pandemic. In 2020, 11 new shipping groups set up shop and 8 maritime companies expanded their operations. In the first five months of 2021, five maritime firms here have either expanded operations or established new ones with support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Port of Singapore remained resilient in 2020. As the port remained operational during the pandemic, Singapore's container traffic in 2020 remained relatively consistent. The total container throughput stood at 36.9 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2021.

The Singaporean Customs Brokerage Market is highly fragmented with the domination of global players and regional players. The global players include UPS, FedEx, and Rhenus Logistics. The regional players also have a strong local presence like Chiang Huat Transport PTE Ltd, Freightmen Pte Ltd, Mercury Freight, M&P International Freight, etc. With a high number of customs brokers operating in the market, the competition is very high. To gain a competitive edge over others, many players have started inducing new technologies Like BlockChain and Supply Chain Integration. Some players have opened warehouses to cater to the demand. Singapore is a transshipment hub for the Southeast Asian region and is well connected by roads, air, and sea, giving a platform for many logistics companies to expand their footprints.

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