Singapore corporates optimistic on future growth prospects

Targeting China and US for future growth, Singapore corporates are showing a bullish trade outlook, a HSBC report has found. Supporting the growth agenda is a similar confidence amongst Singapore’s key trading partners as well as the imminent signing of several Singapore-relevant free trade agreements.

The findings are part of HSBC Navigator - a global survey of more than 8500 corporates across 34 of the world’s major markets gauging business sentiment and expectations on trade activity and business growth. The survey – which was released globally today - also sought the views of 200 Singapore-based firms. It follows a similar report from six months ago.

Singapore business confidence on the rise - China and US the growth focus

HSBC Navigator finds Singapore firms are more confident than their global peers currently, as well as when compared to Singapore’s business sentiment from the HSBC Navigator report six months ago.

According to the October 2018 HSBC Navigator report, 80% of Singapore businesses surveyed said they have a positive trade outlook, compared to the global average (77%). Moreover, the previous Navigator report (in March 2018) showed 70% of Singapore businesses expected an increase in trade volume over the medium term compared to global average of 77%.

Singapore corporates are targeting China for future growth with 26% of seeing it as a key growth market, followed by the US and Malaysia (both nominated by 16% of Singaporean firms surveyed).

China is Singapore’s largest trade partner, with S$137.1bn total merchandise traded between the two countries in 2017.¹ Despite Singaporean businesses seeing equal growth opportunities with Malaysia and the US, Malaysia is the Republic’s second largest trade partner (S$108.bn) with the US in third place (S$79.9bn).²

Technology the key to growing Singapore corporate’s attractiveness

HSBC Navigator reveals that improving productivity and digitalisation will be the key focus areas for Singapore corporates as part of their expansion into other markets.

Greater use of technology (38%) tops the list of factors expected to drive growth for corporates in Singapore, followed by increasing product demand (33%) and developing stronger supply chain connectivity (29%).

Focusing on supply chains specifically, the report demonstrates the awareness and importance of technology for Singapore businesses in increasing competitiveness and profitability. Both goods (36%) and services (30%) businesses prioritised investment in technology as the top change to their supply chains.

Tony Cripps, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Singapore, said: “Singaporean corporates are certainly in growth mode, and targeting US and China shows that not only are they undeterred by noise around geopolitical trade disputes, but that shrugging off global trade tensions, they are placing a two-way bet on both markets. This may seem counter-intuitive at first glance but when there’s disruption, there’s opportunity.”

“As the trade dispute unfolds, US and Chinese companies will continue to re-examine their trade partners, and Singapore’s trade centrality means its corporates can position themselves favourably if a supply chain trade diversion for corporates from either nation is on the cards. But the opportunity won’t magically swing their way; instead, agility in business models and adoption of technology is necessary to ensure they’re positioned as an attractive alternative.”

Regional neighbours’ trade bullishness and FTAs also underpin Singapore business confidence

The robustness of Singapore’s key regional trade partners and imminent regional free trade agreements will also underpin Singapore corporates’ business confidence.

Respondents from key trade countries of Singapore - Malaysia (89%), Vietnam (94%) and Indonesia (86%) – have stated that they are very bullish on their business outlook.

Navigator also found that 64% of Singapore firms think that free-trade agreements will have a positive impact on their business over the next three years. This compares to the global average of 51%.³

Singapore is at the epicentre of several trade pacts that are awaiting signing or ratification including:

• EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) - EU-Singapore trade is worth approximately €50 billion annually. Singapore's exports to the EU are expected to grow by around 10.4 over a 10-year period a result of the EUSFTA.⁴
• The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) - total exports and GDP are each expected to increase by 0.2% by 2035 arising from the CPTPP.⁵
• Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) - potential to deliver significant opportunities for businesses in the East Asia region, with the 16 RCEP participating countries accounting for almost half of the world’s population; contribute about 30 per cent of global GDP and over a quarter of world exports.⁶

Mr Cripps continued: “Despite protectionism coming from some directions, Singapore is entering a period of heightened trade liberalisation elsewhere as it awaits ratification of several trade pacts including CPTPP, EUSFTA and RCEP.

“Even if these FTAs change as part of the final negotiations, they will certainly offset any economic headwinds coming from trade tensions or currency fluctuations. But in the same vein as targeting market growth in China and US there’s no magic wand to make the opportunities come to you. So, if corporates are serious about optimizing these trade pacts, they need to understand what they can mean for them - and to do the work now: not when they become enacted.”

Relatedly, HSBC economists expect Singapore’s growth in real year-on-year exports’ value to reach 6.3% for 2018 and 3.2% for 2019.⁷ Manufacturing production has been a key driver of growth in 2018 and is expected to remain on an expansionary path in 2019.⁸ However, the outlook for outward-oriented sectors, such as finance, wholesale trade and transportation – who may provide intermediation services to clients directly involved in trade tensions – have more of a mixed outlook.⁹

Notes for editors

HSBC Navigator: Now, next and how for business

HSBC’s Navigator report comprises a global survey gauging business sentiment and expectations on trade activity and business growth from 8,650 decision-makers in 34 markets. Research was conducted by Kantar TNS for HSBC between August and September 2018. HSBC’s Navigator helps businesses capitalise on new opportunities and make informed decisions for the future by understanding the outlook for international trade.

The full report can be accessed here: www.business.hsbc.com/trade-navigator

¹ Department of Statistics Singapore, 2017

² Department of Statistics Singapore, 2017

³ HSBC Global Navigator Report (October 2018)

⁴ European Commission: The EU-Singapore agreements explained

⁵ Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore

⁶ Association of Southeast Asian Nations: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

⁷ HSBC Global Research Asia Pacific Economic Quarterly 4 October

⁸ HSBC Global Research Asia Pacific Economic Quarterly 4 October

⁹ HSBC Global Research Asia Pacific Economic Quarterly 4 October