More than 90,000 Singapore-based businesses are now selling internationally through PayPal, representing one in four of the country’s 356,100 registered enterprises. Collectively, these businesses attracted over 14 million customers worldwide, underscoring Singapore’s growing role in global e-commerce.
According to PayPal’s latest Global Beat 2025 report, Singapore recorded more than 60 million cross-border transactions between April 2024 and March 2025. The data shows strong performance across key verticals such as gaming, fashion, beauty, digital goods, and software. Together, the top three sectors—gaming, beauty, and fashion—generated more than US$1.6 billion in transaction value.
Matthew Lucas, Vice President and Head of Cross Border Trade at PayPal, said, “PayPal continues to be a trusted partner for Singapore businesses expanding globally. Our brand gives international shoppers the confidence to buy across borders, and today, one in four local businesses sell internationally with PayPal. With our secure digital payment solutions and infrastructure, even the smallest business can reach customers around the world. For example, Singapore brands are gaining traction in high-growth markets such as Mexico, particularly in the beauty and fashion sectors. With product offerings like PayPal Ads and PayPal Rewards now available in selected international markets, we’re helping local businesses grow their global customer base and build resilience in today’s dynamic trade environment. We look forward to introducing even more solutions in 2026 to further simplify international expansion for businesses.”
Gaming, beauty, and fashion lead Singapore’s export performance
Gaming was Singapore’s most popular cross-border export, generating more than US$593 million in transaction value and averaging 1.7 million monthly transactions. The United States led with over 500,000 monthly purchases, followed by Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and France.
Beauty ranked second, generating over US$411 million in transaction value and nearly 900,000 monthly transactions. Demand was particularly strong in emerging markets, led by Mexico with around 297,000 monthly purchases, followed by the United States, Australia, and China.
Fashion exports contributed over US$636 million, averaging 737,000 monthly transactions. The United States again led demand with more than 230,000 monthly purchases, followed by Mexico, Japan, and Germany. These figures show the international appeal of Singapore’s lifestyle and consumer brands, which are finding loyal followings across both developed and emerging markets.
Expanding beyond traditional markets
While the United States remains Singapore’s largest market, with purchases exceeding US$830 million, Mexico has emerged as a fast-growing destination for Singapore products, especially in fashion and beauty. The country accounted for more than seven million purchases worth over US$370 million during the reporting period.
Singapore’s businesses are also scaling up in digital goods and software, which together generated over US$276 million in transaction value and about 665,000 monthly transactions. The United States, Germany, and Canada were the top buyers in these segments, reflecting a broadening of Singapore’s digital economy beyond physical exports.
PayPal’s findings highlight Singapore’s increasing ability to compete globally, supported by digital infrastructure and trusted payment platforms that make international trade more accessible. As cross-border e-commerce continues to grow, small and medium enterprises in Singapore are well positioned to capture opportunities in both established and emerging markets.
