In brief
Singapore’s corporate sector’s direct investment abroad reached 1.85 trillion Singapore dollars (about 1.45 trillion U.S. dollars) by the end of 2025, with direct equity accounting for 94.3% of the stock. 11.8% year‑on‑year growth was driven by outflows to China mainland, the United Kingdom and India, which together attracted 64.8% of the total. The advance figures have not yet been finalized, leaving room for adjustments.
Singapore’s corporate sector’s direct investment abroad climbed to 1.85 trillion Singapore dollars, roughly 1.45 trillion U.S. dollars, at the end of 2025, according to advance estimates released by the Singapore Department of Statistics and reported by Xinhua on November 3, 2026.
The stock of Singapore’s Direct Investment Abroad (DIA) rose 11.8 percent year‑on‑year, a growth driven largely by the high proportion of direct equity stakes. Beijing – a top destination for Singaporean investors – remains the country with the largest share of the portfolio.
Investment composition and destination profile
Direct equity investment represents 94.3 percent of the total DIA stock, leaving only 5.7 percent for net inter‑company lending, according to the Department’s statement.
Aggregating the top ten destination economies, 64.8 percent of Singapore’s DIA stock was invested abroad by the end of 2025. Among these, the mainland of China, the United Kingdom and India stood out as the primary recipients, together accounting for the bulk of the outflow.
These figures reflect a continued preference among Singaporean corporations for equity participation in major economies that offer sizable markets and strategic partnerships. While the data set does not break down the investment by sector, the collective share of the three leading countries suggests a concentration in manufacturing, technology and services across these regions.
These advance estimates remain provisional; Singapore’s Department of Statistics will publish a final version sometime after the year‑end close. Until then, the reported numbers are subject to revision as additional submission data and post‑year adjustments are incorporated.
Because the figures are only estimates, there is uncertainty about the final DIA stock – the actual value could be higher or lower. Analysts also note that changing geopolitical dynamics could alter the relative attractiveness of the top three destinations in future periods, and that shifts in regulatory or tax regimes might influence investment patterns.