If you're shipping to Singapore, you need a local importer.
The Importer of Record (IOR) is the legally responsible party in Singapore's customs records. Without a locally registered entity, your goods will be held at customs clearance. IOR service lets you import legally without establishing a local entity.
Channel-neutral IOR. Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, Shopify — one contract covers all.
TheNewGate Asia Pacific — IOR ServiceStop renting your brand to a single channel.
Provider lock-in
Most IOR providers are tied to one marketplace. Switch channels and you restart from scratch — new contracts, new timelines, new compliance filings.
No local entity, no sales
Without a Singapore-registered importer, you can’t clear customs on any major ASEAN channel. Full stop.
Japanese-language gap
ASEAN IOR providers rarely operate in Japanese. Documentation errors are common — and the penalties are not small.
What we cover, line by line.
Additional channels available on request. Ask about Qoo10, Amazon SG, and regional distribution.
| Feature | TNGAP (channel-neutral) | Channel provider |
|---|---|---|
| Customs | Covered | Covered |
| GST | Covered | On request |
| Brand permit | 4 channels | 1 channel |
| Logistics | Covered | Covered |
| Supported channels |
How it works
Submit product details
HS code, product category, country of origin, estimated shipment volume.
We match your IOR provider
From our certified network of 5 providers — Nippon Express SG, Dimerco, Kerry Logistics, Yusen, and Kintetsu.
One contract covers all channels
Import compliance, customs clearance, and delivery coordination — documented in Japanese.
From shipping instruction to delivery, 6 steps.
Receive shipping instruction
You provide commercial invoice, packing list, and HS code
Compliance pre-check
We verify the product meets Singapore import requirements
IOR declaration
We file the customs declaration on TradeNet as the importer
Clearance & inspection
Handle customs inspection (if required)
Local delivery coordination
Arrange delivery to your warehouse or 3PL
Document archiving
Provide complete import documents for your records
IOR is included in all service tiers.
If you've subscribed to Nursery, Entry, Standard, or Pro, IOR arrangement is already included in your monthly fee. Standalone IOR service is for brands that want to manage their own e-commerce operations but need a compliance solution.
Standalone IOR
Suitable for brands with their own operations team
Osaka Shopee seller: Channel switch completed in 12 days.
Osaka Consumer Goods Brand (Shopee seller)
Before: Operating through trading company, commission + IOR fee reaching 18% of GMV
Switch: Contacted TNG IOR service, evaluation took 3 days
Result: Lazada MY live in 12 days, total cost down to 12% of GMV
Savings: Annualized savings approximately SGD 28,000 (based on monthly GMV of SGD 19,000)
We thought switching IOR providers would take months. It actually took 12 days, and nothing was disrupted on the Singapore side.
Operations Manager — Osaka Consumer Goods BrandWhy IOR compliance is more complex than it looks
Singapore's customs framework (TradeNet) requires every commercial import to have a locally registered Importer of Record. The IOR is legally responsible for accurate HS code classification, correct duty payment, and compliance with product-specific regulations enforced by Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA), the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
For Japanese brands, the most common compliance pitfalls are cosmetics that require HSA notification before import, food supplements that trigger SFA import permit requirements, and electronics that require IMDA type approval. Our compliance pre-check process identifies these requirements before your first shipment — not after your goods are held at the border.
TNGAP's IOR infrastructure has cleared goods across 47 distinct HS chapters since 2023. We have pre-established compliance protocols for the most common Japanese export categories and direct working relationships with the relevant Singapore authorities for expedited resolution when issues arise.
Understanding the true cost of IOR
Many Japanese brands underestimate the cost of their current IOR arrangements. A trading company that charges 'only' 8% commission is also extracting margin from your product pricing, adding handling fees, and taking 30–60 day payment terms that create working capital drag. The total cost of a trading company arrangement is often 18–25% of revenue when all components are counted.
TNGAP's IOR service is priced transparently: a fixed setup fee, a per-shipment processing fee, and pass-through costs for customs duties and product-specific permits at cost. There are no hidden margin components. You know your IOR cost before your goods ship.
Regulatory Foundation
- UEN
- 202548372K
- Address
- 6 Raffles Quay, #11-07 John Hancock Tower, Singapore 048580
- Directors
- Uruma Matsushita (Founder & CEO)
Toshikazu Muramatsu (CSO, Singapore resident) - Legal Basis
- Hub-and-Spoke / PE non-recognition structure confirmed by Christopher & Lee Ong, Singapore
- Affiliation
- Serving JCCI member companies across Singapore and ASEAN
Certified Carrier Network
IOR Estimator
Estimate your IOR cost in 30 seconds.
Select your product category, shipment frequency, and origin country. We’ll return an indicative monthly cost — no commitment required.
Calculate estimate →Estimate in 30 seconds, then talk to us — no obligation.
vs. establishing your own Singapore entity: SGD 15,000–30,000 + 3–6 months
FAQ
IOR, explained.
Our IOR service means zero cost for Singapore entity setup, director fees, or ACRA annual filing. All regulatory liability transfers to TNGAP from day one.