2026.02.2504:01:28UTC+00Brunei Trade Surplus Hits 2-1/2-Year Low

Brunei’s trade surplus narrowed sharply to BND 136.9 million in December 2025 from BND 368.8 million a year earlier, marking the smallest surplus since June 2023. The deterioration was largely driven by a surge in imports.

Total imports jumped 27.7% year-on-year to BND 1,005.1 million, the highest level in 19 months, supported by robust demand for mineral fuels (up 40.2%) and miscellaneous manufactured articles (up 117.1%). Malaysia remained Brunei’s largest import partner, accounting for 55.1% of total imports, followed by the United Arab Emirates (9.5%), Kazakhstan (9.1%), China (5.7%), and Indonesia (4.4%).

Exports edged down 1.2% to BND 1.14 billion, weighed mainly by lower shipments of mineral fuels (-1.1%) and chemicals (-13.0%). Australia was the leading export destination, taking 26.1% of total shipments, followed by China (13.7%), Singapore (13.4%), Japan (12.4%), and Malaysia (6.8%).

For the full year, Brunei recorded a trade surplus of BND 5.06 billion, down from BND 5.28 billion in 2024, as exports declined 10.4% and imports fell 13.8%.