Industry News

The Straits Times Index (STI) has climbed back to the 4,400 mark, closing at 4,422.21, following a 2.17% rise. This rebound is attributed to the robust performance of Wall Street, which reached all-time highs due to a favourable inflation report. The likelihood of a 25-basis points interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve this week stands at 96.9%.

In corporate developments, Jardine Matheson has made a privatisation offer for Mandarin Oriental, causing both companies’ stocks to surge. Meanwhile, Seatrium has rejected what it termed the “wrongful termination” of a $475m contract.

A report from DBS suggests that the STI could reach 10,000 and the Singapore Dollar could achieve parity with the US Dollar by 2040. Additionally, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued a consultation paper on civil compensation for market misconduct, with more market measures expected to be announced in November.

Upcoming events include a dialogue with Keppel Infrastructure Trust on 30 October and the SIAS Investors’ Choice Awards on 11 November. These events aim to provide investors with insights into company performances and market trends.

The Securities Investors Association (Singapore) continues to promote investor education and financial well-being, supported by a 250% tax deduction for qualifying donations extended until 31 December 2026.

PropNex Research has revealed a significant rebound in Singapore’s shophouse market during the third quarter of 2025, with transactions climbing by 50% quarter-on-quarter. The surge is attributed to improved buyer and seller sentiment, bolstered by a stable economy, lower interest rates, and a positive tourism outlook.

In Q3 2025, 27 shophouse transactions were recorded, marking the highest quarterly sales in two years and amounting to $210m. This represents a 65.3% increase in value compared to the previous quarter. District 15, encompassing Katong and Joo Chiat, led the sales with eight deals valued at $47.9m.

Leasing demand remained stable, with 816 rental contracts signed, a slight 2% increase from Q2 2025. However, the total value of these contracts fell by nearly 4% to $8.58m. Median rentals decreased by 1.3% to $6.59 per square foot per month.

PropNex anticipates continued investment interest in shophouses, driven by their safe-haven appeal and heritage value. However, macroeconomic uncertainties and US-China trade tensions could impact business outlooks and yields. Despite these challenges, shophouses are expected to remain attractive to investors seeking defensive assets.

CBRE has been appointed as the exclusive leasing agent for 218 Pandan Loop, a six-storey industrial facility in Singapore designed for food manufacturing, distribution, and logistics. The property, strategically located within the Pandan Loop Food Zone, features a 3,000-pallet cold room, an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), ambient warehouse space, and multiple loading bays.

The facility is purpose-built to support seamless supply chain connectivity, offering a rare plug-and-play opportunity for both established operators and new entrants in Singapore’s food logistics ecosystem. Its location within a vibrant cluster of food manufacturing and logistics businesses enhances operational efficiency and provides immediate access to complementary services.

Graeme Bolin, Head of Occupier and Leasing, Industrial and Logistics Services at CBRE Singapore, highlighted the facility’s modern specifications and integrated cold chain infrastructure. “218 Pandan Loop is a standout facility in Singapore’s food logistics landscape. Its location within a well-established food zone further strengthens its appeal,” he stated.

Situated approximately 15 kilometres from the Central Business District, the site boasts excellent connectivity via the Ayer Rajah Expressway, Clementi MRT station, and the upcoming West Coast MRT station, expected to be completed by 2032. Enquiries for leasing opportunities at 218 Pandan Loop are now open, offering businesses a turnkey solution that supports both operational efficiency and scalability.

High-performing organisations in the Asia-Pacific region are leveraging observability to achieve a 125% annual return on investment (ROI), according to the latest State of Observability 2025 report by Splunk. This strategic shift is particularly significant as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in daily operations, transforming observability from a technical function into a business catalyst.

The report highlights that Singapore leads in AI adoption, with 85% of organisations incorporating AI into their workflows. This integration is credited with improving incident troubleshooting speeds, a top ROI driver for 64% of Singaporean organisations. Whilst Australia and India are capitalising on AI to focus more on innovation rather than maintenance, with 87% and 82% of organisations, respectively, reporting such benefits.

Observability is also seen as a business multiplier, with 65% of organisations across the region noting a positive impact on revenue. Additionally, 64% report improvements in product roadmaps, underscoring observability’s role in strategic decision-making. Patrick Lin, SVP and GM of Observability at Splunk, stated, “Observability practitioners are becoming critical stakeholders in key business decisions.”

However, the report also identifies challenges, such as skills shortages in Japan and New Zealand, which hinder the full realisation of AI and observability benefits. To address these, the report suggests upskilling observability practitioners to manage AI workloads effectively.

As organisations continue to navigate the complexities of AI, observability practices are poised to play a crucial role in enhancing business performance and fostering innovation across the region.

StarHub and Mediacorp have announced a strategic partnership aimed at reshaping Singapore’s media and entertainment sector. This collaboration will integrate StarHub’s TV+ content, including the Premier League and over 7,000 hours of live sports, into Mediacorp’s mewatch platform, offering audiences a more comprehensive viewing experience. The agreement was formalised at a signing ceremony on 27 October 2025 at StarHub Green.

The partnership seeks to address the increasingly fragmented viewing habits by providing a unified content destination. This move allows viewers to access a wide range of entertainment, from global blockbusters to local favourites, through flexible subscription packages. Additionally, advertisers will benefit from enhanced targeting capabilities, leveraging the combined reach and data-driven insights of both companies.

Nikhil Eapen, Chief Executive of StarHub, highlighted the partnership’s potential to “unlock new advertising solutions powered by data and precision,” whilst Tham Loke Kheng, Chief Executive of Mediacorp, emphasised the creation of “greater value for audiences and advertisers alike.”

This collaboration not only aims to strengthen Singapore’s media ecosystem but also positions the local industry as a formidable alternative to global streaming platforms. By expanding content access and fostering innovation, StarHub and Mediacorp are committed to delivering long-term value for audiences and advertisers, and supporting the growth of local creative talent.

Sembcorp Industries has announced two major clean energy initiatives on Jurong Island, Singapore. The projects include the expansion of the country’s largest utility-scale energy storage system and the launch of the Sembcorp Jurong Island Solar Farm. These developments aim to enhance Singapore’s renewable energy capabilities in line with the Green Plan 2030.

The energy storage system has been upgraded from 285MWh to 326MWh through a pioneering vertical expansion, allowing increased capacity without additional land use. This innovative approach marks the first such expansion of an operational energy storage system in Singapore. Sembcorp plans to explore further battery stacking opportunities across the island, reinforcing its leadership in advanced energy storage solutions. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) will collaborate with Sembcorp to assess the system’s ability to provide inertia, crucial for maintaining grid stability.

The solar farm, with an installed capacity of 118MWp, is the largest ground-mounted solar project in Singapore. It spans six vacant industrial land parcels and generates enough energy to power approximately 33,200 four-room HDB flats annually. This project highlights Sembcorp’s capability to repurpose unused land for renewable energy, supporting the nation’s sustainability goals.

Koh Chiap Khiong, President and CEO of Gas and Related Services at Sembcorp, emphasised the company’s commitment to integrating and scaling clean energy technologies. “These initiatives demonstrate our ability to integrate and scale clean energy generation and storage technologies, reinforcing a resilient and future-ready energy ecosystem,” he stated.

These projects underscore Sembcorp’s role in advancing Singapore’s energy transition and its dedication to sustainable development.

Jurong Island, a cornerstone of Singapore’s Energy and Chemicals (E&C) industry, celebrates its 25th anniversary by pivoting towards low-carbon innovation. Home to over 100 global E&C companies, the island is integral to Singapore’s manufacturing sector, contributing around 3% to the nation’s GDP. As the industry shifts towards sustainability, Jurong Island aims to meet the growing demand for decarbonisation solutions and new energies.

Since the launch of the Sustainable Jurong Island plan in 2021, the island has seen a 14-fold increase in sustainable product output, with a target of 15-fold by 2030. Companies like ExxonMobil are investing in cleaner fuel production, whilst a partnership with SHub—a consortium of Shell and ExxonMobil—aims to develop a cross-border carbon capture and storage project capable of storing 25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

The Economic Development Board (EDB) has awarded 35 projects with the Resource Efficiency Grant for Emissions, supporting innovative solutions to reduce emissions. Projects from companies such as Evonik and Air Liquide are expected to significantly cut carbon emissions, equivalent to removing 80,000 cars from the road.

Looking ahead, Jurong Island will focus on becoming a hub for speciality chemicals and sustainable materials, with over 30 new projects since 2021. Additionally, the island will serve as a testbed for new energies and low-carbon technologies, with initiatives like Sembcorp Solar’s 118 MWp solar deployment and the development of Singapore’s largest low-carbon data centre park.

As Jurong Island continues to evolve, its role in driving Singapore’s low-carbon future remains pivotal, aligning with the nation’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Sinch, a global leader in cloud communications, has launched its multichannel messaging platform, Sinch Engage, in Singapore. The platform enables businesses to create scalable connections with customers on popular channels like WhatsApp and SMS, without requiring technical expertise. Sinch Engage’s features include no-code AI-supported campaigns, native integration with HubSpot, and interactive automated responses for lead capture and appointment reminders.

Sinch Engage aims to redefine digital customer communication by allowing companies to reach consumers in real-time. Angus Manfield, SVP of Sales & Partnerships at Sinch, highlighted WhatsApp’s popularity in Singapore, stating, “The data is clear: WhatsApp is one of the most used and impactful platforms in Singapore. This is why Sinch is bringing Engage to Singapore businesses to help them better tap into consumer demand for additional communication through this channel.”

The platform’s integration with HubSpot’s Service Hub is a key feature, enabling users to send personalised campaigns directly from workflows. Kelly Sarabyn, Director of Technology Partner Programmes and Strategy at HubSpot, expressed excitement about the partnership, noting that Sinch Engage provides Singapore HubSpot users with more options for customer connection.

Sinch Engage is trusted by numerous global companies and complies with data privacy standards such as PDPA and GDPR. It also boasts ISO-20071 certification and built-in spam filtering, ensuring high security and privacy standards. The launch of Sinch Engage in Singapore marks a significant step in enhancing business communication capabilities in the region.

FairPrice Group has launched FPG ADvantage, Singapore’s largest omnichannel retail media network, designed to connect brands with consumers across the nation. This new initiative leverages FairPrice Group’s extensive network of 570 touchpoints, including FairPrice supermarkets, Cheers convenience stores, Unity pharmacies, and Kopitiam food courts, to engage customers where they shop, dine, and live.

FPG ADvantage offers brands access to 1.7 million customers using the FPG app and over two million members of Link Rewards, Singapore’s largest loyalty programme. The network includes more than 1,000 digital screens, in-store radio, AI-enabled smart carts, and app-based interactions, facilitating over one million customer engagements daily.

The platform provides consumer-goods brands with insights into their digital media investments through strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Meta and The Trade Desk. This enables brands to connect digital campaigns directly to sales, allowing for quick strategy refinement and ensuring measurable sales outcomes.

Since early 2025, FPG ADvantage has delivered significant results for partners such as the Health Promotion Board, Singtel, and Nestlé Milo. Notably, Nestlé achieved a 42x return on ad spend and a 30% sales uplift across channels.

Vipul Chawla, Group CEO of FairPrice Group, highlighted the platform’s ability to offer brands a trusted advertising solution built on insights from Singapore’s largest retailer. The launch underscores FairPrice Group’s commitment to evolving the retail landscape in Asia, aiming to create meaningful connections and enhance everyday life for Singaporeans.

Veolia has announced that its hazardous waste treatment facility in Singapore has received the country’s first licence from the National Environment Agency (NEA) to treat aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This approval marks a significant step in Singapore’s environmental protection efforts, particularly as the nation phases out firefighting foams containing PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS by 1 January 2026.

The licence allows Veolia to employ high-temperature thermal treatment, a method proven to achieve a destruction and removal efficiency of up to 99.9999% for targeted PFAS. This development is crucial for local industries needing to comply with upcoming regulations, ensuring safe and effective disposal of PFAS-contaminated waste.

Bruno Forissier, CEO of Veolia in South East Asia, stated, “This first-of-its-kind licence from the NEA validates our advanced BeyondPFAS solutions and reinforces Singapore’s position as a regional leader in environmental innovation.”

The BeyondPFAS initiative will serve multiple sectors, including manufacturing, electronics, and defence, providing a compliant and sustainable solution for managing PFAS waste. Veolia’s facility will play a pivotal role in offering safe disposal pathways, aligning with Singapore’s broader depollution and sustainability goals.

With this licence, Veolia positions itself as a key partner for industries seeking effective PFAS waste management solutions, further supporting Singapore’s commitment to environmental innovation and sustainability.