Brunei Darussalam’s trade balance recorded a significant surge of 40.2 per cent in January 2025, reaching BND516.9 million compared to the previous month. The increase was primarily driven by a rise in export values and a decline in imports.
Exports fuel trade growth
Exports grew by 6.4 per cent month-on-month to BND1,229.5 million, with mineral fuels continuing to dominate Brunei’s export profile, accounting for 76.4 per cent of total outbound trade. Chemicals followed as the second-largest export category, contributing 21.7 per cent, while Machinery and Transport Equipment made up a modest 0.8 per cent.
Australia emerged as the top export destination, receiving 22.0 per cent of Brunei’s shipments, followed by Japan (17.2 per cent) and China (15.8 per cent).
In contrast, Brunei’s imports fell by 9.4 per cent to BND712.6 million in January, a decline that tempered the overall trade volume, which registered a marginal contraction of 0.02 per cent compared to December 2024.
Mineral fuels remained the largest import commodity, accounting for 65.1 per cent of total imports, followed by food products (9.5 per cent) and machinery and transport equipment (9.2 per cent).
Key trading partners
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) retained its position as Brunei’s top import partner, supplying 30.1 per cent of the total imports, primarily in mineral fuels. Malaysia ranked second with 27.4 per cent, reflecting the strong regional trade linkages, while China accounted for 12.1 per cent.
The full International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) report for January 2025 is available on the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (DEPS) website.
