Brunei Trade Surplus Hits 2-1/2-Year Low

Brunei’s trade surplus fell sharply to BND 136.9 million in December 2025 from BND 368.8 million in the same month a year earlier. It marked the lowest trade gain since June 2023, mainly due to a jump in imports. Purchases surged 27.7% yoy to a 19-month high of BND 1,005.1 million, boosted by stronger demand for mineral fuels (40.2%) and miscellaneous manufactured articles (117.1%). Malaysia was the top import source (55.1% of total purchases), followed by the United Arab Emirates (9.5%), Kazakhstan (9.1%), China (5.7%), and Indonesia (4.4%). Meanwhile, sales dropped 1.2% to BND 1.14 billion, primarily due to lower shipments of mineral fuels (-1.1%) and chemicals (-13.0%). Key export destinations included Australia, with 26.1% share, China (13.7%), Singapore (13.4%), Japan (12.4%), and Malaysia (6.8%). For the full year, the trade surplus was at BND 5.06 billion, down from BND 5.28 billion in 2024, as exports shrank 10.4% while imports dipped 13.8%.

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 purchases), 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%.