Singapore ‘s foreign trade in the XIX century and Russian trade interests

The article is devoted to the development of Singapore’s trade relations with foreign countries during the XIX century. Particular attention is paid to the expansion of the geography of the island’s foreign trade relations during the period under review, the range of exports and imports, the definition of the role of the port of Singapore in the development of international trade, channels for the supply of goods, prices, ethno-confessional characteristics of trade, the composition of merchants, etc. The author notes the role of Great Britain in the development of Singapore’s foreign trade, the evolution of British legislation regarding the island, and the role of the English language in international communication in the field of trade on the island. He analyses the main stages of the development of foreign trade relations of the Russian Empire with Singapore, emphasizes the interest of St. Petersburg in expanding direct trade relations with the island. The publication contains a wealth of statistical material extracted from foreign sources, characterizing the dynamics of Singapore’s foreign trade relations during the XIX century. The article is based on little-known pre-revolutionary sources (including archival ones) in Russian, English, French, Spanish, German, Serbian.