SINGAPORE LANDED COST
Singapore levies 9% GST calculated on CIF value plus duties and incidental charges. Loose diamonds are not a dutiable category under Singapore Customs, so the applicable rate is 0% customs duty plus 9% import GST. A GST-registered Singapore buyer can typically claim the import GST as input tax, reducing the effective landed cost to the stone price plus logistics and clearance fees in most circumstances. Confirm your buyer's GST registration status and the applicable HS classification with a Singapore customs broker before the first shipment.
A Free Trade Zone or licensed Zero-GST warehouse can suspend GST while goods remain under the relevant scheme. GST becomes payable when goods are released for local circulation. This makes Singapore a practical logistics point for buyers consolidating stock for onward export, but it does not convert a domestic sale to a Singapore jeweller into a tax-free transaction.
ILLUSTRATIVE PLANNING MODEL
The figures below are a planning model for a 100 ct parcel at an assumed invoice price of USD 500/ct, air freight, standard insurance, and mid-market exchange rates from 30 August 2026. This is not a carrier quote or a live price. Replace all assumptions with actual forwarder quotes and confirmed exchange rates before pricing any transaction.
| Item | USD | SGD (approx.) |
|---|
| 100 ct at USD 500/ct | 50,000 | 63,693 |
| Air freight assumption | 250 | 318 |
| Insurance assumption (0.15% of merchandise) | 75 | 96 |
| CIF value | 50,325 | 64,107 |
| Customs duty | 0 | 0 |
| Clearance, permit, and handling assumption | 200 | 255 |
| Import GST at 9% of CIF | 4,529 | 5,768 |
| Cash landed outlay before recoverable GST | 55,104 | 70,131 |
| Economic landed cost if GST is fully claimable | 50,575 | 64,362 |
Exchange rate reference: XE 30 Aug 2026, 1 SGD = USD 0.7850. Confirm the applicable rate with your bank or forwarder on quote day. Confirm HS classification and whether incidental charges are included in the taxable import value with your Singapore customs broker.