India and Singapore have been enjoying healthy trade relations for years. There has been a great demand for India’s agricultural produce across the nations of Southeast Asia, including Singapore. The most popular product exports to Singapore are rice, crabs, cashew nuts, onions, and groundnuts. Singapore is arguably one of the most economically-stabilized nations in the world. The country usually sits surplus of funds and very low foreign debt. This positive growth is primarily credited to the consistent global demand for Singaporean electronics and fiscal services. Unfortunately, the agricultural sector of this nation is not thriving due to a shortage of arable land. This makes Singapore as one of the best destinations for Exporting Vegetable. After reading this article, you will be able to export vegetables to Singapore with ease.
Bilateral Trade between India & Singapore
India & Singapore have fostered healthy trade relations for years. The most common product exported to Singapore from India includes agricultural products, textile & leather products, vegetable & fruits, chemical product & precious gems. Similarly, India exports a wide variety of products to the USA, with Singapore ranking 10th when it comes to nations importing from India. The trade relations between these two nations have blossomed of late, with export stood at 36.1 billion INR in 2019.
Listicles of Commodities (Including Vegetables) Exported to Singapore
Here is a quick look at the list of products that are frequently exported to Singapore from India.
| Sl No | HS Code | Product |
| 1 | 70310 | Onions & shallots fresh or chilled |
| 2 | 80132 | Cashew nuts fresh/dried |
| 3 | 100630 | Rice |
| 4 | 120242 | Groundnuts |
| 5 | 170199 | Refined sugar |
| 6 | 180100 | Cocoa beans |
| 7 | 520100 | Cotton |
| 8 | 17011410 | Jaggery |
| 9 | 04090000 | Organic honey |
| 10 | 10019910 | wheat |
| 11 | 0807 | Mangoes, watermelon, papaya and fresh grapes |
| 12 | 0403 | Milk & dairy products |
| 13 | 07070000 | Cucumber |
| 14 | 1005 | Corn |
Singapore[1] is one of the prominent importers of agricultural products around the globe. The scarcity of land in this country is gradually increasing demand for other products as well. The list of products below may witness huge demand from Singapore in the future.
- Live plants and cut flowers
- Tomatoes
- Grapes
- Potatoes
- Coconuts
- Cardamoms
- Wheat
- Soya beans
- Ginger
- Vegetable fat and oil
Procedure for Exporting Vegetables to Singapore from India
- First, any firm that intends to carry out exporting activities must register itself as a legal entity. For this purpose, the entrepreneurs must approach the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Further, they will be required to visit the Director-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) portal to obtain the Import Export Code (IEC), which will serve as a type of registration number. IEC certification is a must have requirement for exporting vegetable to overseas countries.
- Next, the applicants need to file an application in the Form ANF2A to the DGFT, along with PAN and bank detail of the company.
- Furthermore, the firm must enroll with Commodity Board & Export Promotion Council to avail various government-issued subsidies & welfare schemes.
- Upon completing the paperwork regarding the same, the applicant has to set up an office for the business.
- Next, the applicant needs to set up a supply chain management by setting up a contract with viable suppliers and vendors.
- Search for prospects in Singapore seeking bulk importation of vegetables. To do so, the applicant may have to conduct extensive research on the market and identify other factors such as prices and competitors.
- To set up the productive supply chain, you will have to hire dealers, agents, distributors, and representatives having expertise in exporting business.
- Lastly, set up a management system for packaging, labeling, and shipping that excels on predetermined standards.
Mandatory Documents for Exporting Vegetables to Singapore from India
Following documents will be required for exporting vegetable to Singapore or other nations.
- Customs entry document prepared by exporter or customs broker.
- Customs bond, if applicable.
- Customs declarations in the specified format
- Import Export license
- Legal undertaking in case of export benefits.
- Purchase order (PO)/letter of credit (LOC)
- Commercial invoice along with a packing list issued by the seller.
- Insurance certificate
- Certificates related to inspection, if applicable
- Certificate of origin (CO)
- Temporary shipment certificate/ ATA CARNET, if applicable
- Certificate of analysis, if applicable
- Certificate of free sale
- Weight certificate
- Consular invoice
Read our article:Importing and Exporting Vegetables from India to Bangladesh & Vice Versa under IEC
Products Selection of Cross Border Transaction & Locating their ITS (HS*) Codes
Apart from exporting vegetable, our country shipped more than 10,000 products, including non-agricultural commodaties every year. The majority of them are freely exportable expect a few appearing in the prohibited list. Anyone can access this list by following the given procedure.
- Visit DGFT website
- Head over to Policies
- Download “ITC (HS) 2017”
- Find relevant sections and chapter headings. Under the subheading, locate the 8-digit ITC (HS) Code of your product.
HS* code: HS Code is an abbreviated term of “Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System”. The HS code is usually referred to as “Harmonized System,” which is a multipurpose nomenclature for international products developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO). Every commodity during the cross-border transaction seeks a custom declaration by means of HS code. This helps in standardizing the product codes globally.
Conclusion
The diverse climate of India ensures the availability of all varieties of vegetables & fruits. India comes in the second position in vegetables & fruits productions globally, after China. India produces more than 11% of the world’s vegetables, making it an ideal destination for importers all around the globe. Singapore, on the other hand, is witnessing a rapid decline in their agro production owing to the shortage of land. Being a tourist-based destination, Singapore has a huge pool of hotels and restaurants nationwide that requires a stable supply of vegetables to feed their customers. Their dependency on India with regards to the importation of vegetables is inevitable, and it’s likely to grow rapidly in the future. Exporting vegetable to Singapore is indeed a profitable business considering the magnitude of demands for Indian agro produces.
Read our article:How to Export Organic Products such as Vegetables and Cereal from India?
