Industry News

The landed homes market in Singapore experienced a significant surge in Q4 2025, with 482 homes changing hands, marking a 7.6% increase from the previous quarter. The total transaction value for these homes reached $2.8b, a 6.7% rise compared to Q3 2025, according to Huttons Asia’s latest report.

This robust performance represents the highest quarterly sales volume and value since Q4 2021. Throughout 2025, a total of 1,801 landed homes were sold, a 14.4% increase from 2024. The average price per square foot (psf) for these homes rose by 7% year-on-year to $2,056.

Detached homes led the price increase, climbing 8.8% to $1,838 psf, followed by terrace homes at 8.2%, and semi-detached homes at 5.3%. The report attributes this growth to stronger-than-expected economic performance, a rising stock market, lower interest rates, and increasing prices of non-landed homes.

Looking ahead, the market for landed homes in 2026 is expected to be cautiously optimistic. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Ministry for Trade and Industry project GDP growth of 1% to 3%, lower than the 4.8% expansion in 2025. Whilst demand may spill over from the non-landed market, potential geopolitical tensions and tariff threats could introduce economic uncertainties. Overall, prices are anticipated to remain stable, though transaction volumes may slightly decrease.

Groundup.ai has announced the launch of Groundup Academy, a global educational initiative aimed at bridging the cognitive gap in Industry 5.0. The academy, introduced at the SMF Manufacturing Day Summit in Singapore, seeks to transform industrial workers from reactive roles into proactive AI Maestros, addressing the challenges posed by increasingly autonomous operations.

The academy is designed to tackle the “Hidden Tax” of unplanned downtime in critical sectors such as manufacturing, maritime, and infrastructure. By offering two specialised tracks—The Whisperer Track for engineers and The Strategist Track for leadership—the academy aims to upskill professionals to interpret machine data effectively, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs.

Leon Lim, CEO and Founder of Groundup.ai, emphasised the importance of human expertise in the evolving industrial landscape. “Industry 5.0 belongs to those who can master the data without losing the human touch,” he stated. The academy’s mission is to alleviate fears of job displacement by empowering workers with AI skills, ensuring they remain indispensable in their roles.

Groundup Academy is accessible at no cost to the global industrial community, with participants earning professional certificates and digital skill badges. This initiative aligns with Groundup.ai’s #ZeroDowntime mission, aiming to build industrial resilience worldwide. Registration for the Pioneer Batch is now open, inviting professionals to advance their skills in the era of Industry 5.0.

JW Marriott Singapore South Beach has introduced the “Stay & Explore” package, offering travellers a seamless blend of luxury accommodation and city exploration. Available for booking until 31 August 2026, the package includes a minimum three-night stay, complimentary two-way airport transfers, and curated sightseeing experiences. Situated in the Marina Bay precinct, the hotel provides easy access to Singapore’s cultural landmarks and lifestyle attractions.

The package is designed to enhance convenience and discovery, allowing guests to explore Singapore with ease. It includes a pair of Discover Tickets for either the Hop-on, Hop-off Singapore Big Bus Tour or Singapore DUCKtours, with additional ticket fees for third persons onwards. Guests can unwind at the Flow18 Sky Garden, enjoying panoramic views and sunset-inspired cocktails.

Dining options within the hotel include modern Cantonese cuisine at Madame Fan, contemporary flavours at Akira Back Singapore, and international buffet favourites at Beach Road Kitchen. Evenings can be spent at Fish Pool, featuring Singapore’s only live mermaid show, or enjoying live jazz at Cool Cats.

JW Marriott Singapore South Beach, a design-led landmark, offers 634 guest rooms, including 47 suites, and is located near the Central Business District and key tourist attractions. The hotel aims to provide enriching experiences for both leisure and corporate travellers.

Managed hosting provider 20i has announced the launch of a new data centre in Singapore, marking a significant step in its international expansion. The facility, powered entirely by renewable energy, aims to meet the growing demand for high-performance digital infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific region. This strategic move allows 20i to offer its autoscaling cloud hosting services closer to users in countries such as India, Pakistan, and Australia.

The Singapore data centre is located within the Tier 3 Equinix facility, known for its high security and network density. This location ensures lower latency and improved performance for 20i’s range of hosting services, including Reseller Hosting, Managed WordPress Hosting, and Cloud Servers. The platform’s dynamic resource allocation maintains peak performance even during traffic surges, eliminating bottlenecks and ensuring fast, responsive services.

Lloyd Cobb, Director at 20i, stated, “The launch of our Singapore data centre is a major milestone in our mission to deliver world-class hosting experiences globally. We’re incredibly excited to bring our most advanced, high-performance hosting platform to Asia.”

The new facility not only enhances service delivery but also aligns with 20i’s sustainability goals. It meets ISO 27001 compliance and security standards, offering robust access controls and continuous environmental monitoring. This expansion is expected to improve Time to First Byte (TTFB), reduce bounce rates, and drive higher engagement for business-critical websites and ecommerce platforms in the region.

CapitaLand Ascott Trust (CLAS) has reported a distribution per Stapled Security (DPS) of 6.10 Singapore cents for the financial year ending 31 December 2025, reflecting its commitment to stable distributions. This announcement coincides with CLAS’s 20th anniversary, during which it achieved an 11% year-on-year increase in income available for distribution, totalling S$256.7m. The growth was attributed to enhanced operating performance, portfolio reconstitution, and higher non-periodic items.

The trust’s revenue and gross profit rose by 3% and 4% respectively, despite challenges such as foreign currency depreciation and property tax adjustments. CLAS’s revenue per available unit (REVPAU) increased by 3% year-on-year to S$161, with a notable 2% rise in the fourth quarter to S$180, driven by higher occupancy rates.

Chairman Lui Chong Chee highlighted CLAS’s disciplined growth strategy, stating, “Since the listing of CLAS on the Singapore Exchange two decades ago, CLAS has grown its distribution income at a compounded annual growth rate of about 12% and delivered a total return of more than 250% to Stapled Securityholders.”

Looking forward, CEO Serena Teo emphasised plans to enhance the portfolio’s resilience by strengthening market presence and recycling capital from divestments. CLAS aims to allocate 25%–30% of its portfolio to the living sector whilst maintaining 70%–75% in hospitality assets. Asset enhancement initiatives are planned in key cities such as London, Sydney, and New York to boost performance and value.

CLAS’s strategic focus on sustainable growth and disciplined management positions it well for future opportunities, with a strong financial footing and a commitment to excellence and sustainability.

Singapore enterprises are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence (AI), with 96% of organisations reporting some level of AI use, according to new research from Hitachi Vantara. However, the study reveals a significant gap in confidence regarding long-term returns, with only 23% of respondents rating their organisation as industry-leading in achieving return on investment (ROI) from AI.

The findings, part of the Hitachi Vantara State of Data Infrastructure 2025 Report, highlight that whilst nearly two-thirds of Singapore firms have seen early success with AI, many remain uncertain about sustaining these gains. This uncertainty is attributed to growing data complexity and security challenges that threaten to undermine long-term value.

The report surveyed over 1,200 C-level executives and senior IT leaders across 15 markets, including 51 respondents from Singapore. It underscores the strategic risks posed by data complexity, with 52% of Singapore respondents acknowledging that their data’s complexity makes it difficult to detect security breaches. Furthermore, 64% expressed concern that if leadership fully understood their data infrastructure’s fragility, it would be a significant worry.

Joe Ong, Vice President and General Manager for ASEAN at Hitachi Vantara, noted, “AI success is no longer about experimentation alone. It depends on whether data environments are resilient, governed, and trusted.”

As AI investment accelerates, the ability to simplify data environments and strengthen governance will be crucial for Singapore firms to transition from early success to sustained value. The research suggests that whilst AI adoption is high, addressing data complexity and security risks is essential to achieving long-term business value.

Fuel Incorporation Pte Ltd, a prominent diesel supplier in Singapore, has announced its strategic expansion into the international oil brokerage and bunkering sectors. This move marks a significant milestone for the company, which has been a key player in Singapore’s fuel supply chain. By extending its operations globally, Fuel Incorporation aims to tap into the trillion-dollar global oil market, facilitating large-scale transactions of refined petroleum products, including low sulphur 10ppm gas oil EN590.

The company has developed an international brokerage platform that connects verified buyers and sellers of refined oil products. This platform leverages Fuel Incorporation’s longstanding industry relationships and compliance standards, ensuring secure and efficient transactions. Additionally, the company is enhancing its bunkering services to support marine and offshore fuel needs, thereby broadening its client base across logistics, shipping, and energy-related industries.

A crucial aspect of Fuel Incorporation’s global strategy is its integration of trade finance support. The company maintains robust banking relationships to facilitate Documentary Letters of Credit, ensuring smooth execution of international transactions and reducing counterparty risk. A company spokesperson stated, “Our expansion into international oil brokerage represents a natural evolution of our business. With our operational experience, industry credibility, and banking connectivity, we are well-positioned to support cross-border fuel transactions with speed, transparency, and reliability.”

Fuel Incorporation’s expansion underscores its transition from a domestic diesel supplier to an international energy trading platform, reinforcing Singapore’s role as a strategic hub for global oil and fuel commerce.

Singapore’s property insurance market is set to expand significantly, with gross written premiums (GWP) expected to rise from S$1.3b (US$973.2m) in 2026 to S$1.6 billion (US$1.2b) by 2030, according to GlobalData. The projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4% is attributed to resilient property values, ongoing development, and digital distribution advancements.

The growth is underpinned by infrastructure and housing projects, as well as the adoption of embedded insurance and faster claims disbursement. Swarup Kumar Sahoo, a Senior Insurance Analyst at GlobalData, noted, “The pipeline of new projects, rising residential values, sustained luxury demand, and investment in public infrastructure will continue to drive the growth of property insurance in Singapore.”

The luxury housing segment has seen a notable increase, with transactions valued at $5m and above rising by over 20% in Q3 2025 compared to the previous year. This trend signals a demand for higher-limit home policies. Additionally, regulatory changes, such as the increased holding period and seller stamp duty, are expected to encourage long-term ownership and comprehensive home insurance.

Digital distribution is accelerating sales, with online insurance markets poised for further growth through 2026. This includes instant policy issuance and AI-enhanced underwriting. Sahoo added, “Real-time payments infrastructure is enabling faster claims payouts after incidents, improving customer experience and trust.”

The rise in residential fires highlights the need for optional home contents policies to avoid underinsurance. As Singapore’s property insurance market continues on its growth trajectory, insurers focusing on digital innovation and climate resilience will be well-positioned to capture premium growth and protect margins.

NetLink NBN Management Pte. Ltd., the Trustee-Manager of NetLink NBN Trust, has announced its financial results for the nine months ending 31 December 2025, showing a 1.6% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year. Despite this growth, the company’s EBITDA saw a marginal decline of 0.6%.

The revenue increase, amounting to an additional $4.9m, was primarily driven by higher non-Regulated Asset Base (RAB) revenue, particularly from ancillary projects. However, the number of residential and non-residential connections experienced a slight decrease, with figures dropping from 1,517,326 to 1,517,049 and from 53,454 to 52,574, respectively. In contrast, Non-Building Address Points (NBAP) connections rose from 3,065 to 3,556, and segment connections increased from 3,832 to 4,244.

The decline in EBITDA, amounting to $1.4m, was attributed to increased operating expenses, notably higher property tax for Seletar Central Office and elevated IT-related costs. Additionally, the Profit After Tax (PAT) fell by $8.8m due to higher depreciation from an expanded asset base and increased net finance costs, although this was partially offset by a higher income tax credit.

NetLink NBN Trust, listed on the Singapore Exchange since July 2017, continues to play a crucial role in Singapore’s Nationwide Broadband Network, providing extensive fibre network infrastructure across the country. The company’s financial performance underscores its resilience amidst fluctuating connection numbers and rising operational costs.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Malaysia Airlines have formalised a strategic joint business partnership, following regulatory approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia and the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore. This collaboration, announced on 29 January 2026, aims to enhance connectivity and offer greater flexibility for customers travelling between the two countries.

The partnership will be implemented progressively, featuring initiatives such as revenue-sharing flights, joint fare products, coordinated flight schedules, and joint corporate travel arrangements. This move is expected to strengthen both airlines’ operations and deliver enhanced value to customers across their combined networks.

Datuk Captain Izham bin Ismail, Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group, stated that this partnership is a step forward in the Group’s Long-Term Business Plan 3.0, positioning Malaysia Airlines for future growth. “This collaboration brings together complementary frequencies and aligned schedules, enabling deeper connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore,” he said.

Goh Choon Phong, CEO of Singapore Airlines, expressed gratitude to the authorities in both countries for their approvals, which pave the way for this strategic partnership. “Our win-win collaboration strengthens both carriers’ operations, whilst delivering enhanced value to customers across our combined networks,” he noted.

Since their initial agreement in October 2019, the airlines have expanded their codeshare arrangements, allowing for greater connectivity between key destinations. Additionally, in February 2024, both carriers introduced reciprocal cross-participation in their frequent flyer programmes, enabling members to earn and redeem points on selected flights.

This partnership not only reinforces the long-standing ties between Singapore and Malaysia but also supports economic growth and connectivity, benefiting both nations.