Spinach market in Singapore

Earlier Report Observations

The fresh spinach market in Singapore grew from 15 828 t in 2018 to 17 718 t in 2020. This expansion was driven by rising consumer awareness of health and freshness, supported by increasing affluence, education, and government campaigns. Retailers responded by prominently featuring healthy produce and innovating store layouts, which intensified competition for shelf space and stimulated demand for vegetables like spinach.

After peaking in 2020, the market volume contracted to 16 358 t in 2021 and further to 14 968 t in 2022, before recovering to 15 612 t in 2023. This period of volatility followed the earlier growth phase, with import volumes fluctuating significantly during these years.

By 2024, the market environment was being shaped by active regulatory updates and evolving consumer habits. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) introduced new food safety and security provisions, including revised pre-market approval and labeling frameworks, while diversifying import sources to over 180 countries to strengthen supply resilience. Concurrently, sustained consumer interest in nutritious, plant-based foods and the integration of spinach into ready-to-eat meals in schools supported demand, even as price and variety considerations kept imported vegetables competitive.

Production spinach in Singapore

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of spinach, 2017-2020

World map of production of spinach, 2017-2020

Spinach production in Singapore has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Singapore produced 2 167 tonnes of spinach, which remained virtually unchanged compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of production in Singapore in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports spinach from Singapore

Exports in kind, t

The export market showed significant volatility during this period. In 2019, exports reached their lowest point at 22 tonnes, then surged to 71 tonnes in 2020, marking a sharp increase of 222.3% year-over-year. This represents a 3.2-fold difference between the two years. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 25.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Singapore in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Singapore's spinach exports were primarily shipped to Malaysia, which accounted for 92.9% of total exports in volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Singapore in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values exhibited considerable volatility over these years. In 2019, exports hit a low of 78 thousand US dollars, then jumped to 338 thousand US dollars in 2020, a 333.0% increase year-over-year. This resulted in a 4.3-fold difference between the two years. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 24.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Singapore in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Singapore's spinach exports in value terms were almost exclusively directed to Malaysia, which absorbed 95.5% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Singapore in value, 2017-2020

Imports spinach to Singapore

Imports in kind, t

Spinach imports into Singapore have risen for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 15 622 tonnes, showing a 9.4% gain compared to the previous year. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 13 713 tonnes, with the largest decline that year at 2.6%. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 11%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 3.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Singapore in kind, 2017-2020, t

Throughout the 2017–2020 period, Malaysia was the primary source for Singapore's spinach imports in volume, accounting for 79.7% of total imports, while the remainder was distributed among various smaller markets.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Singapore in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Singapore's spinach import value has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to approximately 16 604 thousand US dollars, representing a 19.9% gain over the past year. From 2017 to 2020, import value grew by 30.9%, which translates to an annualized rate of 9.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Singapore in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the main sources for Singapore's spinach imports in value terms were Malaysia (39.7% of import value), China (37.3% of import value), and Australia (10.3% of import value). Together, these three countries accounted for 87.3% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Singapore in value, 2017-2020