PayPal Empowers Global Trade for Singapore

More than 90,000 Singapore-based companies — nearly one in every four businesses across the nation — are now selling products and services internationally through PayPal, as the platform continues to revolutionize digital payments and global commerce. Through the seamless functionality of PayPal, these businesses have been able to connect with over 14 million international shoppers worldwide, transforming how Singapore participates in the global economy. Between April 2024 and March 2025, merchants processed more than 60 million cross-border transactions using PayPal, highlighting the company’s growing role in enabling frictionless trade across borders.

The success of this cross-border boom owes much to industries such as gaming, beauty, and fashion, all of which have emerged as major contributors to Singapore’s export economy through PayPal. Combined, these sectors generated over US$1.6 billion in international sales. The gaming industry alone brought in US$593 million with 1.7 million monthly purchases processed through PayPal, led by enthusiastic buyers from the United States, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and France. This strong performance shows how PayPal helps even small game developers in Singapore reach millions of international customers with minimal friction.

Beauty brands also experienced a massive surge in demand via PayPal, recording US$411 million in cross-border transactions and nearly 900,000 monthly purchases. The largest growth came from Mexico, followed by the United States, Australia, and China. By leveraging PayPal’s trusted payment infrastructure, beauty merchants from Singapore are building new global audiences and ensuring smooth, secure transactions that enhance consumer confidence.

Fashion followed closely with US$636 million in cross-border trade and over 737,000 monthly purchases, again powered by PayPal’s user-friendly checkout system. Popular destinations for Singapore fashion exports included the United States, Mexico, Japan, and Germany, where PayPal’s local payment integrations have allowed customers to buy in their preferred currency and payment method. This accessibility has made PayPal the go-to payment platform for international e-commerce growth.

Beyond physical products, digital goods and software companies in Singapore have also thrived under the PayPal ecosystem, collectively earning more than US$276 million in global sales. This sector has seen particularly strong activity from customers in the United States, Germany, and Canada, further illustrating how PayPal supports industries across both physical and digital markets.

The United States remains the single largest market for Singapore merchants, accounting for over US$830 million in purchases through PayPal, while Mexico has emerged as one of the fastest-growing destinations, generating seven million purchases valued at US$370 million. Most of these sales come from the beauty and fashion categories, which continue to dominate in consumer interest. PayPal’s international network has proven essential for connecting these merchants to diverse regions and consumer groups, breaking traditional geographical barriers.

Matthew Lucas, Vice President and Head of Cross Border Trade at PayPal, emphasized that the company’s mission is to empower businesses of all sizes to scale globally. “With innovative services like PayPal Ads and PayPal Rewards now available in select international markets, we’re helping local businesses expand their global customer base and strengthen their competitiveness in today’s fast-changing trade environment,” he explained. Lucas also revealed that PayPal is preparing to roll out additional tools in 2026 aimed at simplifying cross-border trade even further, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Through its expanding ecosystem, PayPal continues to position itself as a catalyst for digital transformation, bridging merchants and consumers worldwide. The integration of secure payment technology, global customer engagement programs, and efficient cross-border infrastructure reinforces PayPal’s reputation as the most reliable gateway for online trade. In doing so, PayPal not only supports Singapore’s vibrant digital economy but also solidifies its role as a global leader in e-commerce innovation, financial inclusion, and international connectivity.