Over the past two years, plant-based food consumption has grown by 49% across the EU, reaching a total sales volume of €3.6 billion.
Singaporean company enters China's halal market
2025-05-15
According to market insiders, Singaporean companies are well-positioned to tap into foreign halal markets, especially China's huge domestic market.
China's halal market, worth $21 billion, is one of the fastest-growing in the world, but it lacks national standards and legislative support because its certification centers are only regional.
Halal refers to products and services that meet Islamic consumer standards.
Industry observers say Singapore, with its internationally recognized halal certification and food safety standards, is well-positioned to enter the Chinese market and fill a gap in the market. In fact, up to 70% of Singapore's food exports are halal-certified.
China's Muslim population accounts for 2%, or about 26 million people, most of whom live in Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu and Qinghai in northwest China. In January 2008, China had its first halal food certification center.
Singapore-based Warees Halal, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MUIS, Warees Investments Pte Ltd., created the General Provisions for Halal Food Certification in March 2013 to certify halal food in Ningxia, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Liaoning and Guizhou.
According to a report by Warees, halal food has become a popular food in China, even among the non-Muslim population, who believe it is healthy, hygienic and has higher standards.
Dainial Lim is a Cayman"Many non-Muslims are increasingly aware that halal food may be safer, cleaner and more hygienic because it must adhere to the strict production procedures and standards set by MUIS in order to obtain halal certification," said the group director of Group Immigration Consultants.
Fazal Bahardeen, director of Crescent Ratings, an authority on halal travel, said: "Having a good halal certification body (MUIS) gives Singapore a great advantage. Obtaining a certificate from MUIS gives them the 'halal guarantee' of a reputable certification body for their products."
Singapore International Enterprises (IE) pointed out that China's halal food industry still lacks relative competitiveness. This provides space for Singaporean food companies to enter and establish themselves in the market early without having to face competition from top international brands that have not yet entered the market.