28 Mar 2025
Retail Property Market 2025: Trends Shaping Investor Strategies
Property Insight

Singapore's retail landscape demonstrated resilience in 2024, underpinned by a sharp rebound in international visitor arrivals and strategic investor activity. Visitor arrivals surged by 21.5%, growing from 13.6 million in 2023 to 16.5 million in 2024, with strong contributions from Mainland China, Indonesia, and India. This growth was fueled by a robust calendar of high-profile events—including concerts by global artists like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Coldplay, as well as the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix and Singapore Art Week—which bolstered tourism-related sectors like retail and hospitality.

Retail property transactions in 2024 moderated slightly, registering approximately 250 caveated transactions compared to 272 in 2023. Despite this moderation, District 7 (Middle Road/Golden Mile) emerged as the top-performing district with 52 transactions. This reflects investor confidence tied to the transformation of the Golden Mile Complex into The Golden Mile, integrating retail, office, and medical suites alongside the upcoming Aurea residential tower. Districts 14 (Geylang, Eunos) and 9 (Orchard, River Valley) followed with 35 and 32 transactions, respectively, underscoring demand for strategically located and historically stable commercial zones.

From a project perspective, Parklane Shopping Mall led with 12 transacted retail units, indicating sustained interest in older, strata-titled developments with flexible configurations. Far East Plaza and Sim Lim Square also recorded strong activity, each with 10 units transacted, appealing to niche businesses and tourist-centric trades.

Notably, City Developments Limited’s acquisition of Delfi Orchard for S$439 million highlighted institutional interest in Orchard Road’s rejuvenation. Other high-value deals included transactions along Irrawaddy Road, North Bridge Road, and Beach Road—signaling a preference for prime, high-footfall locations.

The leasing market also improved, with total retail rental value rising by 2.7% year-on-year from $254.5 million in 2023 to $261.2 million in 2024. Median rentals held firm across multiple regions, with the North and North-East regions commanding premium rates. Fringe and Central Areas also experienced rental recovery, reflecting sustained demand in key retail corridors.

Looking ahead to 2025, Singapore's retail sector is poised for continued growth. The Singapore Tourism Board projects 17.0 to 18.5 million visitors, generating up to $30.5 billion in tourism receipts. This optimism is supported by new attractions such as Illumination’s Minion Land at Universal Studios Singapore and the Disney Adventure Cruise Line, both expected to draw significant regional traffic.

Retail will also benefit from a vibrant MICE calendar, bringing in high-spending business travelers. Experiential retail, the integration of physical and digital commerce, and evolving consumer expectations will continue to shape leasing and investment trends. While external risks such as geopolitical uncertainties and macroeconomic fluctuations persist, the sector remains anchored by Singapore’s strong fundamentals, diversified tourism base, and investor confidence in well-located assets.

Click here for the full report 

Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: mohan@sri.com.sg  

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RCR Demand Drives 43.3% Growth in New Home Sales in May 2026

Singapore's new home market moderated in May 2026, with developers selling 447 new private homes excluding Executive Condominiums (ECs), down from the 1,548 units transacted in April. 

Despite the monthly moderation, market performance remained encouraging on a year on year basis. New home sales increased by 43.3% from the 312 units sold in May 2025 to 447 units in May 2026. The improvement was primarily driven by stronger activity in the Rest of Central Region (RCR), where sales rose from 191 units to 334 units over the same period. The strong showing highlights continued demand for city fringe developments that offer a balance between accessibility, lifestyle amenities and relative affordability. The year on year growth also suggests that buyer confidence remains intact, with purchasers continuing to participate actively in the market despite a more measured operating environment.

Hudson Place Residences emerged as the standout performer of the month. As the only major launch in May, the project accounted for nearly half of all new private home sales, moving 209 units at a median price of $2,465 psf. The strong response demonstrates that buyers remain receptive to projects that are well located, well connected and competitively positioned within their respective market segments.

Looking ahead, new home sales are expected to remain relatively subdued in June due to the seasonal impact of the mid year school holidays and the limited number of major launches scheduled during the month. However, this is likely to be temporary. Market activity is expected to regain momentum in the second half of 2026 as a fresh pipeline of launches enters the market. Upcoming projects such as Lentor Gardens Residences and Dunearn House are expected to attract healthy interest, while buyers who have remained on the sidelines may return as more options become available. Barring any significant external shocks, the primary residential market is expected to remain on stable footing, supported by resilient underlying demand and a steady pipeline of new launches.

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for the full report:

Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: mohan@sri.com.sg

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15 Jun 2026
Peck Hay Road GLS Draws Top Bid of $1,865 psf ppr from CDL and Hong Leong Group

Peck Hay Road Government Land Sales GLS site attracted four bids at the close of its tender on 11 June 2026, with the highest offer submitted by CDL Constellation Pte. Ltd. and Garden Estates (Pte.) Limited (Hong Leong Group) at $542.4 million, translating to a land rate of $1,865 psf per plot ratio (psf ppr). The winning bid reflects strong confidence in the long term prospects of the Newton area despite a relatively lower number of participants compared to the neighbouring Bukit Timah Road GLS site, which attracted eight bids earlier this year. 

Despite fewer bidders, bidding intensity remained healthy. The top bid exceeded the $1,820 psf ppr achieved for the nearby Bukit Timah Road site awarded earlier this year, highlighting continued confidence in well located Core Central Region developments. This suggests that developers remain willing to compete aggressively for prime sites with strong fundamentals, particularly those located within established residential districts and supported by future transformation plans. 

The Peck Hay Road site enjoys several locational advantages. Situated within the Newton Planning Area, the site is expected to yield approximately 315 residential units and is located near Newton MRT Interchange, providing direct access to both the North South Line and Downtown Line. Residents will benefit from excellent connectivity, including being just one MRT stop from Orchard Road and only minutes away from the Central Business District. These attributes enhance the site's appeal among owner occupiers, investors and affluent homebuyers seeking a central location. 

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here

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Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: mohan@sri.com.sg

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Higher GLS Supply in 2H2026 Supports Long Term Residential Market Growth

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The programme also demonstrates a strong emphasis on transit-oriented development. Many of the sites are located near existing or future MRT stations, including Orchard Boulevard, Marina Gardens Lane, Tanjong Rhu Close, Berlayer Close and Town Hall Link. This reflects the Government's ongoing efforts to concentrate housing supply in highly accessible locations where residents can benefit from established transport infrastructure and amenities.

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Click

here

for the full report:

Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: mohan@sri.com.sg