Brunei Trade Surplus Widens Sharply

Brunei’s trade surplus jumped to BND 457.2 million in May 2026 from BND 254.5 million in the same month a year earlier as exports grew faster than imports. Year-on-year, exports surged 52.8% to BND 1.57 billion, largely boosted by strong gains in mineral fuels (80.7%). Australia was the largest export destination, accounting for 28.3% of total shipments, followed by the Philippines (14.1%), Japan (13.0%), Singapore (11.4%), and China (9.9%). Imports grew at a milder 44.0% to BND 1.12 billion, driven by a sharp rise in mineral fuel purchases (66.7%). Malaysia was the top source of imports, supplying 69.5% of total inbound shipments, ahead of Australia (10.5%), Vietnam (4.9%), China (2.8%), and the U.S. (2.6%). For the first five months of 2026, trade surplus soared to BND 3.15 billion from BND 2.12 billion in the same period last year, as exports rose 27.7% while imports grew more slowly by 15.6%.

Brunei’s trade surplus surged to BND 1.12 billion in April 2026 from BND 0.4 billion in the same month a year earlier. It was the largest amount since April 2014, as exports jumped 75.8% yoy to BND 2.06 billion, the highest since December 2009, boosted by strong gains in mineral fuels (83.1%) and chemicals (48.4%). Australia was the largest export destination, accounting for 32.8% of total shipments, followed by Singapore (16.0%), Japan (12.9%), China (11.2%), and Thailand (10.3%). Imports grew at a slower 21.6% to BND 0.94 billion, driven by a sharp rise in mineral fuel purchases (22.6%) and machinery and transport equipment (33.4%). Malaysia was the top source of imports, supplying 67.8% of total inbound shipments, ahead of Vietnam (6.0%), China (5.4%), the UK (4.2%), and the U.S. (2.6%). For the first four months of 2026, trade surplus widened to BND 2.69 billion from BND 1.86 billion in the same period last year, as exports climbed 22.3% while imports rose more slowly by 8.0%.

Brunei’s trade surplus widened to BND 597.0 million in March 2026 from BND 491.7 million in the same month a year earlier, marking the largest amount since last October. Exports surged 32.7% yoy to BND 1.66 billion, the highest level in over three years, boosted by strong gains in mineral fuels (34.1%) and chemicals (30.5%). Australia remained the largest export destination, accounting for 31.2% of total shipments, followed by China (14.2%), Singapore (14.2%), Japan (6.4%), and India (6.2%). Meanwhile, imports climbed 40.0% to BND 1.06 billion, mainly driven by a sharp rise in mineral fuel purchases (57.4%). Singapore was the top source of imports, supplying 52.4% of total inbound shipments, ahead of Australia (14.3%), Malaysia (11.2%), Vietnam (4.3%), China (3.2%), and the U.S. (1.8%). For the first quarter of 2026, trade surplus edged higher to BND 1.57 billion from BND 1.46 billion in the same period last year, as exports increased 4.9% while imports rose at a slower rate of 3.1%.