Singapore is preparing for a potentially tougher haze season, with major retailers reassuring the public that N95 mask supplies remain sufficient even as authorities closely monitor worsening regional fire activity and the risk of transboundary haze.
The reassurance comes as Singapore enters a period when haze risks traditionally increase, particularly during the Southwest Monsoon season. The inter-agency Haze Task Force has been engaging major retailers and advising them to monitor inventory and replenish supplies when necessary.
The situation is being watched closely because 2026 has brought hotter and drier conditions across parts of Southeast Asia, increasing the potential for fires and smoke to affect Singapore.
Retailers say supplies are under control
Major pharmacy and supermarket chains told CNA that they currently have enough N95 masks to meet expected demand.
Watsons Singapore said it maintains a steady supply across its stores and online platforms and does not foresee supply problems at present. Guardian said it has sufficient N95 masks and could replenish individual stores within three days if necessary.
FairPrice Group also said its stores have sufficient stocks and that it will continue monitoring demand and replenishing supplies. The company urged consumers to buy only what they need so masks remain accessible to those who require them.
Singapore’s government also maintains a national N95 stockpile that can supplement commercial supplies if required. The Ministry of Health said it regularly reviews stockpile requirements and considers the country’s reserves sufficient.
But there is an important distinction between national supply and what shoppers see on individual shelves.
A CNA spot check at several outlets found N95 masks available at only some locations, while online channels continued to offer supplies. The limited number of boxes displayed in some stores did not necessarily indicate a nationwide shortage.
Why Singapore is watching the haze risk closely
The Singapore Institute of International Affairs has assessed the region as facing a high risk of severe transboundary haze during the remainder of 2026, with the risk expected to peak around August and September.
At the same time, the National Environment Agency has taken a somewhat less severe view of the likely impact on Singapore, saying it expects brief periods of haze rather than a prolonged episode.
NEA said the current situation is more comparable to the 2023 El Niño event than the devastating 2015 episode. Hotspot numbers detected so far are also significantly lower than those recorded during 2015.
That does not mean the risk has disappeared.
Regional haze monitoring by the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre is currently at Alert Level 2, meaning monitoring and information exchanges have been stepped up, with daily assessments of hotspots, fire locations and measures being taken.
The Straits Times also reported that dry conditions and regional fires have increased concerns about haze, particularly as El Niño contributes to hotter temperatures and reduced rainfall. Smoke from hotspots in parts of Sumatra could potentially be carried toward Singapore by prevailing winds.
When should people actually wear an N95 mask?
Despite the renewed attention surrounding masks, health authorities are not telling everyone to wear an N95 mask immediately.
Singapore’s HealthHub says N95 masks can help filter fine haze particles, including PM2.5, when a person must remain outdoors for several hours under sufficiently poor air-quality conditions.
For healthy people, HealthHub’s guidance points to N95 use when the PSI is above 300 and prolonged outdoor exposure is unavoidable. For people with chronic heart or lung conditions, the guidance applies at lower thresholds.
N95 masks are generally not necessary for short trips such as walking from a bus stop to a shopping centre, and they are not required simply because haze is present.
Proper fit is also crucial. An N95 mask must seal appropriately around the face; gaps can reduce its effectiveness. HealthHub also notes that surgical masks do not effectively filter fine PM2.5 particles, although they can reduce irritation from larger particles.
The numbers residents should watch
Singapore uses both the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) and one-hour PM2.5 readings to help residents assess air quality.
The PSI provides a broader picture for planning activities, while one-hour PM2.5 readings are useful for making decisions about current outdoor activities.
According to Singapore’s health guidance, a PSI reading of 101–200 is considered unhealthy. At that level, healthy people are advised to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion, while elderly people, pregnant women, children and people with chronic heart or lung conditions should take greater precautions.
The official haze monitoring system classifies PSI levels of 201–300 as very unhealthy and readings above 300 as hazardous.
What households can do before the haze worsens
Authorities recommend preparing before air quality deteriorates rather than waiting until the skies become visibly hazy.
Residents can:
- Monitor official PSI and one-hour PM2.5 readings.
- Close doors and windows when outdoor air quality worsens.
- Reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities when advised.
- Use a portable air purifier with an efficient filter to reduce indoor particles.
- Avoid activities that generate additional indoor pollution.
- Keep properly fitted N95 masks available if prolonged outdoor exposure becomes necessary.
One important point: visibility and smell alone are not reliable measures of air quality. The Straits Times noted that a strong burning smell can accompany haze, while poor visibility can also be influenced by humidity and other atmospheric conditions.
Singapore is preparing—but authorities are not declaring a crisis
For now, the message from Singapore’s authorities and retailers is one of preparedness rather than panic.
The government says its N95 stockpile is sufficient, major retailers report that they have supplies, and retailers have been told to keep monitoring inventory. At the same time, environmental agencies continue tracking regional hotspots, wind patterns and weather conditions that could determine whether smoke reaches Singapore.
The contrast is significant: Singapore is preparing for a potentially difficult haze season, but current indicators do not point to a repeat of the catastrophic 2015 episode.
The bigger question is whether the region’s hot and dry conditions remain manageable—or whether a sudden increase in fires and a shift in winds could change the picture quickly.
For residents, the safest approach is neither panic-buying nor ignoring the warnings: watch the official air-quality readings, follow health advisories and prepare before conditions deteriorate.
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