France emerged as Brunei Darussalam’s 28th largest global supplier in 2024, with exports reaching EUR13.8 million – more than double the amount recorded in 2023, representing an increase of over 106 per cent. The growth was primarily driven by strong performances in wood products (26 per cent), industrial and agricultural machinery (22 per cent), and electronics (11 per cent).
On the other hand, Brunei’s exports to France amounted to EUR929, with agri-food products accounting for 55 per cent of total imports. France ranked Brunei as its 199th largest global supplier and the smallest in the region, below Laos. The import increase was supported by rising demand for agricultural goods and textiles.
The trade figures were shared by Financial Counsellor for ASEAN member countries at the Embassy of France in Singapore Raphael Badr during a talk titled ‘Dialogue: ASEAN…Brunei…France: Looping Brunei In’ hosted by the French Bruneian Business Association (FBBA) yesterday at Baiduri Community Centre. Honorary President of FBBA Dato Seri Paduka Haji Musa bin Haji Adnin; President of FBBA Pierre Imhof; Ambassador of France to Brunei Darussalam and Patron of FBBA Eve Lubin; executive committee members; and guests were present at the event.
Raphael Badr noted that France currently maintains a modest trade surplus with Brunei of EUR12.8 million. He also highlighted that bilateral trade peaked in 2018 following a major order by Royal Brunei Airlines for seven A320neo aircraft, with the first batch delivered in May of that year.
Meanwhile, Head of Economic Department for ASEAN at the French Embassy in Singapore Adeline-Lise Khov delivered a presentation on ‘Building the France of 2030 Today’, where she underlined France’s strong economic fundamentals and its standing as the world’s seventh-largest economy. – James Kon
