Merchandise Trade

Coverage of Merchandise Trade Statistics

Singapore adopts the "general" system for recording merchandise trade statistics. Under this system, all goods imported into or exported from Singapore are included in the merchandise trade statistics with the following major exceptions:

Transhipment cargo;
Goods imported and exported by joint defence force, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
Exposed cinematographic films imported or exported on a rental basis;
Commercial, shipping or airline documents, press photographs or negatives, news write-ups, news clippings, news films or news transcription tapes;
Goods temporarily taken into or out of the country to be returned after a specific purpose, for example, for an exhibition;
Personal and household effects (excluding motor vehicles) accompanying passengers, crews, or employees of transport for personal use;
Trade samples and specimens for test or analysis; and gifts not exceeding the value of $400;
Gold held as reserve assets that are exchanged between monetary authorities or authorised banks;
Issued currency notes and coins.
Diplomatic correspondences;
Parcel post;
Used motor vehicles covered by Carnet de Passage which are endorsed by the Automobile Association of Singapore;
Human corpses, human remains, human bones or cremated ashes;
Human transplant materials;
Non-controlled goods exported by air, and not exceeding the value of $1,000; and
Non-controlled goods imported by air, and not exceeding the value of $400.

Ships and aircraft are included if they are imported or exported as merchandise, whether or not they arrive or depart under their own power.

Domestic Exports

Refers to exports of Singapore origin. It comprises

(i) primary commodities grown or produced in Singapore and
(ii) goods which have been transformed, that is, manufactured, assembled or processed in Singapore including those with imported materials or parts.

Merchandise Exports

Refers to all goods taken out of Singapore, except those specified as excluded under ‘Coverage’ (see above). It comprises domestic exports and re-exports. Merchandise exports are valued at ‘FOB’ (Free On Board), that is, the value of goods when sold abroad up to the point where the goods are deposited on board the outgoing vessel, aircraft or vehicle.

Merchandise Imports

Refers to all goods brought into Singapore, except those specified as excluded under ‘Coverage’ (see above), irrespective of whether they are for consumption, for processing, for use in manufacturing, or for subsequent re-shipment to other countries. Merchandise imports are valued at ‘CIF’ (Cost, Insurance and Freight), that is, the value of goods at the frontier of the exporting country plus the cost of insurance and freight and any other charges when sold for export to Singapore.