Singapore is upgrading its infrastructure and logistics networks to cut air-sea intermodal transit times to under 24 hours, positioning itself to capture shifting trade flows across Southeast Asia. The expansion is expected to generate 2,000 logistics jobs in 2025 as the country deepens its role as a regional cargo gateway.
The push comes alongside record freight volumes. Port operator PSA handled over 40 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024, eclipsing 38.8 million TEUs in 2023, while cargo movements at Changi Airport reached 1.82 million tonnes through November 2024.
To support this traffic, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Economic Development Board (EDB) are introducing measures to speed up transshipments and incentivize global freight operators to grow their local footprint.
Transport authorities are building a prototype digital platform to automate real-time tracking, flight and vessel bookings, and delay alerts for cargo operators. Today, transferring cargo between sea vessels and aircraft in Singapore can exceed five days because smaller logistics intermediaries rely on manual processes.
Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat set a target to halve that dwell time, pushing for connecting departures within 24 hours of arrival. Economic Development Board vice president Dave Goh said the sector could generate S$6.9 billion in annual value to the economy, equivalent to a 2 per cent boost, once the Logistics Job Transformation Map rolls out in 2025.
Shipping realignments will test terminal capacity early in the year. 7 million TEUs across networks that include roughly 40 weekly calls in Singapore.
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