Brunei Trade Surplus Hits 3-Month High

Brunei’s trade surplus fell to BND 390.0 million in November 2025 from BND 429.3 million in the same month a year earlier. It was the lowest trade surplus since May, as imports dropped faster than exports. Year-on-year, purchases plunged 10.4% to BND 648.7 million, reflecting weaker demand for mineral fuels (-6.3%) and machinery and transport equipment (-14.7%). Malaysia remained the top import source (50.4% of total %), followed by South Africa (13.1%), China (7.4%), Australia (5.1%), Singapore (4.0%), and the U.S. (3.0%). Meanwhile, exports shrank 9.5% to BND 1.04 billion, primarily due to lower shipments of mineral fuels (-16.4%). Key export destinations included Australia (23.1%), China (15.7%), Japan (12.3%), Singapore (11.3%), and Vietnam (8.5%). For the first eleven months of the year, the trade surplus was at BND 4.92 billion, little changed from a gain of BND 4.91 billion a year earlier, as exports contracted 11.2% while imports slumped 17.4%.

Brunei’s trade surplus increased to BND 547.3 million in October 2025 from BND 440.9 million in the same month a year earlier. It was the largest trade surplus since July, as exports grew while imports shrank. Year-on-year, exports expanded 8.3% to a three-month high of BND 1.15 billion, primarily due to higher shipments of mineral fuels (20.1%). Key export destinations included Australia (23.2% of total shipments), Japan (15.4%), China (15.3%), Singapore (14.8%), and India (5.6%). Meanwhile, imports dropped 3.0% to BND 600.2 million, reflecting weaker demand for mineral fuels (-9.3%) and machinery and transport equipment (-13.7%). Malaysia remained the top import source (29.5%), followed by Kazakhstan (15.4%), Australia (11.0%), Singapore (10.9%), China (9.8%), and the U.S. (4.0%). For the first ten months of the year, the trade surplus widened to BND 4.53 billion from BND 3.48 billion a year earlier, as exports fell 11.3% while imports plunged 26.9%.

Brunei’s trade surplus increased to BND 354.3 million in September 2025 from BND 339.5 million in the same month a year earlier. Year-on-year, exports dropped 12.1% to BND 1.03 billion, primarily due to lower shipments of mineral fuels (-10.5%), chemicals (-18.3%), and machinery and transport equipment (-24.1%). Key export destinations included Australia (22.2% of total shipments), China (21.2%), Singapore (16.5%), Japan (9.6%), and Taiwan (8.4%). Meanwhile, imports plunged 18.8% to BND 670.7 million, reflecting weaker demand for mineral fuels (-22.7%), machinery and transport equipment (-17.8%), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (-9.9%). Malaysia remained the top import source (27.0%), followed by Singapore (18.8%), Australia (9.9%), the United Arab Emirates (7.4%), China (5.9%), and the U.S. (3.9%). For the first nine months of the year, the trade surplus edged down to BND 3.98 billion from BND 4.04 billion a year earlier, as exports shrank 13.1% while imports tumbled 19.2%.