Taiwan Overtakes China as Singapore’s Top Trading Partner

Taiwan’s dominance in advanced chip manufacturing complements Singapore’s role in semiconductor equipment, packaging, testing and regional logistics. Their ties have deepened since the two sides signed the ASTEP economic partnership agreement on Nov. 7, 2013. As investment in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing accelerates, wafers, machinery and intermediate goods increasingly move between the two economies at different production stages.

Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry said on Feb. 10, 2026, that Taiwan became the city-state’s largest merchandise trading partner in 2025. Bilateral trade surged 46% to S$170.4 billion, lifting Taiwan from fourth place a year earlier and putting it ahead of mainland China at S$162.9 billion and Malaysia at S$145.0 billion. Semiconductors and related goods made up about 80% of Taiwan’s exports to Singapore, while chip equipment and related products accounted for roughly 60% of Singapore’s shipments to Taiwan.