How International Brands Can Start Selling in Singapore and Southeast Asia via Online Channels.

Dibyendu Ganguly
May 30
3 min read

Sell your goods in Singapore and rest of South East Asia. We are there to help you.

Southeast Asia is one of the fastest-growing eCommerce markets in the world, with a digitally savvy population and a booming middle class. For international brands, Singapore serves as the perfect springboard to enter and scale across the region, which includes markets like Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In this blog, we’ll break down the opportunities, consumer behavior, key sales channels, and how EximScouts can help your brand overcome common cross-border selling challenges.

📈 Why Southeast Asia Is a Hotspot for eCommerce Expansion

Internet Penetration: Over 70% of the population across SEA is online.
Mobile-First Shoppers: Most eCommerce activity happens via mobile apps.
Rising Disposable Income: Driven by an emerging middle class and youth population.
Projected Market Size: SEA’s eCommerce GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) is expected to exceed $230 billion by 2026 (source: Google-Temasek-Bain report).

🇸🇬 Why Start With Singapore?

Singapore is a trusted global business hub with:

A high-income population and digital infrastructure
English-speaking consumers and regulations
Regional distribution networks via Lazada and Shopee
Fulfillment capabilities to reach neighboring SEA countries

Think of it as the “logistics and legal command center” for your Southeast Asia expansion.

🛍️ Top Online Marketplaces in SEA

Country	Top Marketplaces
Singapore	Lazada, Shopee, Amazon.sg, Qoo10
Malaysia	Lazada, Shopee
Thailand	Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop
Philippines	Lazada, Shopee
Vietnam	Lazada, Shopee, Tiki.vn

Through Lazada and Shopee’s regional logistics networks, brands can sell across countries without setting up separate entities.

SEA shoppers are trend-sensitive, social media-influenced, and value both price and quality.

👤 SEA Consumer Behaviour Insights

Prefer cashless payment methods like mobile wallets
Heavy use of social commerce (shopping via TikTok, Instagram, etc.)
High trust in reviews, influencer recommendations, and promotions
Festival-driven buying: Big spikes during Singles Day, 12.12, Ramadan, and Lunar New Year
Responsive to limited-time deals and flash sales

🚧 Challenges Faced by International Brands

IOR & MOR Requirements: Selling legally on most marketplaces needs a local importer and merchant.
Uncertain Product-Market Fit: Entering without testing may lead to high sunk costs.
Localized Compliance & Documentation: Taxes, labeling, return policies differ country to country.
Managing Multi-country Shipping & Fulfillment: Returns, last-mile delivery, and cross-border logistics can become complex.
Need for Local Marketing: SEO, content, and creatives must be adapted for cultural relevance.
No Warehousing or Inventory Base: Hard to hold and ship goods efficiently across the region.
Platform Entry Barriers: Each marketplace has its own rules, onboarding process, and verification requirements.

✅ How EximScouts Solves These Challenges for You

EximScouts is your trusted partner for cross-border eCommerce into Southeast Asia. Here’s how we help:

🔹 Importer of Record (IOR) & Merchant of Record (MOR) in Singapore

🔹 Local Warehousing in Singapore — hold stock close to demand

🔹 Pan-SEA Fulfillment via Lazada & Shopee regional networks

🔹 End-to-End Marketplace Management — onboarding, listing, campaigns, customer support

🔹 D2C Webstore Setup via Shopify or Wix with local payment integrations

🔹 Localized Marketing & Ad Campaigns tailored to each country

🔹 Inventory Testing Support — start with small MOQ to evaluate Hero SKUs

🔹 Returns & Last-Mile Logistics Management

🌏 Why Singapore Is the Best Launchpad for Southeast Asia

With warehousing in Singapore and seamless access to Lazada and Shopee’s regional fulfillment centers, you can ship once to Singapore and start selling across multiple countries without having to incorporate locally or manage separate compliance.

📦 Test your products easily

🚚 Faster delivery times across SEA

💰 Low-cost market entry

📊 Reliable sales and inventory insights

✨ Final Thoughts

If you're an international brand aiming to expand into Southeast Asia, starting from Singapore makes your journey smoother and more scalable. Partnering with EximScouts allows you to avoid regulatory complexities, reduce upfront investment, and focus on what you do best — building a global brand.

📩 Email us at info@eximscouts.com to get started today.