Singapore triples global share in cross-border property investment: report

Singapore accounted for 2.5% of global cross-border capital targeting standing assets in Q1 2025, from its five-year average of 1%.

Singapore has climbed the global ranks as a major exporter of capital for real estate, even as global investment volumes remain below historical norms.

According to the GCM Global Capital Flows APAC June 2025 report by Colliers and MSCI Real Capital Analytics, Singapore accounted for 2.5% of global cross-border capital targeting standing assets in Q1 2025 — a sharp rise from its five-year average of 1%.

In total, Singapore-originated cross-border investments into standing assets reached US$3.9b over the past 12 months, with US$3.1b staying within the Asia-Pacific region.

Singapore also featured prominently as a destination for development capital. It attracted US$508m in cross-border investment for land and development sites in the same period, maintaining a stable 1% share of global activity, consistent with its five-year average.

Singapore’s ascent comes amid broader monetary easing across Asia. As the report noted, Singapore, along with South Korea and Australia, began cutting interest rates in 2025. This contrasts with mixed signals from North America and tighter stances in Japan.

The Asia-Pacific region continues to dominate cross-border capital flows for land and development. Seven of the top 10 markets globally are in APAC, led by China, which alone accounted for 80% of such activity.

For sector preferences, office assets led investment activity in APAC, followed by industrial and multifamily, signaling ongoing strength in the region’s commercial property market.