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Wholesale Trade
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Industry Profile

Industry Overview
 

Wholesale trade refers to the business-to-business (B2B) transaction of goods. Comprising more than 34,500 companies, it is a highly diversified industry. A wide range of products, from commodities to industrial and consumer products, are traded through Singapore.

Wholesale trade companies include:

  • Brand owners (such as Apple and Qualcomm)
  • Distributors of other companies’ brands (such as Luxasia)
  • Trading arms of manufacturers and retailers (such as Toyota and Charles & Keith)
  • Large commodities trading houses (such as Olam, Shell, and Wilmar)

A key contributor to Singapore’s economy, wholesale trade accounted for S$47.3 billion or 9% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2017. It also provides more than 350,000 jobs to 9% of Singapore’s workforce.

Changing consumer demand and advance in technology are transforming the global marketplace and trading activities. The Wholesale Trade Industry Transformation Map was launched in 2017. It outlines strategies for the industry to mitigate risks and seize growth opportunities.

Booming Consumer Market in Asia
 

Asia’s rapid population growth is driving the region’s urbanisation and consumer needs. This results in an increase in the region’s demand for goods such as food, infrastructure materials and equipment, and smart devices.

If you are in wholesale trade, you are well-positioned to capture these growth opportunities in the region, with the support of a vibrant ecosystem and strong trade infrastructure in Singapore.

Impact of Digitalisation
 

Capitalise on digital technology to stay competitive in the global trading environment. Digital marketplaces have emerged as an alternative channel for wholesale trade. Such platforms enable traders to have a wider reach to customers in a more efficient manner and enjoy greater economies of scale.

As a wholesale trade company, you can ride this digital wave by adopting digital solutions and automation to streamline your processes and be more productive. You can also train your employees in new skills, such as digital marketing and data analytics, which are essential for conducting trade in a digital era.

Wholesale Trade Goes Green
 

In recent years, greater environmental and social concerns have increased the demand for sustainable trading. Wholesale traders are investing time and resources to adopt sustainable practices. Integrating environmental and sustainability elements into your sourcing and trading decisions will keep you relevant in the sector, and compliant with industry standards.

If you run trading desks, keep up with the sustainability standards to leverage on emerging opportunities in the wholesale trade sector.

Want to Find Out More?
 

Enterprise Singapore supports Singapore wholesale trade companies to explore opportunities locally and abroad with a suite of tools and programmes.

Find out how you can boost capability, go global, tap the trade ecosystem and develop talents to innovate and seize new opportunities.

Other useful information:

Free Trade Agreements
Find out how Free Trade Agreements can help grow your export business.
Read More
Economic Partnership Agreements
Find out how you can enjoy preferential market access.
Read More

 

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(Last updated on 16 January 2019 12:00:56)