Brunei Darussalam’s Business Sentiment Index (BSI) for June 2024, published by the Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB), reported that three out of 11 economic sectors expected slightly optimistic business conditions. The survey results showed that the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and livestock sectors reported mixed views across businesses.
Some shared optimistic sentiments with the expected increase in demand for their fresh produce and poultry, as well as higher output in the capture fisheries businesses. Some businesses echoed expectations of similar performance despite Hari Raya Aidiladha celebrations, while others shared concerns about adverse weather conditions affecting production.
The health and education and the other private services sectors attributed their slight optimism to improved overall performance amid fewer holidays in June.
Meanwhile, four sectors showed pessimism for June. The wholesale and retail trade and manufacturing sectors generally shared expectations of slower market activity and dampened demand following the typical post-festive season trend, while some businesses noted lower performance due to domestic consumers’ preference for cross-border spending.
The hotels and restaurants sector, whose performance is generally tied to domestic activity, owed their pessimism to fewer events in June, while the oil and gas related sector continued to be affected by scheduled maintenance activities and expectations of lower profit margins. The construction, finance and insurance, real estate and ownership of dwellings, and transport and communications sectors expected similar business conditions to that of May. The sentiments continued to be mixed for the construction sector, with some businesses engaged with ongoing projects or expecting new projects, while others shared concerns about the lack of projects and projects being on hold because of delayed payments.
The index is based on surveys conducted on more than 500 micro, small, medium, and large businesses from 11 economic sectors across all districts in the country.
There are nine sub-indices within the BSI. The main headline index, the current business conditions sub-index, was 50.0 in June 2024.
Following the 49.9 value reported in the previous month, this indicates that private sector businesses generally had similar expectations regarding business conditions in June 2024 compared to May. Survey results showed that market activity is expected to remain dampened with lower sales due to fewer domestic events in June and consumers’ preference for cross-border spending.
Pessimistic sentiments were noted in a few sectors, such as the construction sector, where businesses involved in government-related projects have shared concerns regarding some delayed payments during the system stabilisation period. On the other hand, businesses that received confirmations of new projects shared positive sentiments for June.
The index for one month (1M) ahead was 50.0, indicating businesses were expecting similar overall performance with the continuation of existing projects amid upcoming holidays in July.
Meanwhile, businesses involved with orders and projects related to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s birthday celebrations shared expectations of improved performance in July 2024.
The Investment sub-index was 50.0 for the current month, 50.1 for 1M ahead, and 50.5 for three months (3M) ahead. In general, businesses expected to maintain the current level of investments in June, mainly due to leftover stock from previous purchases and having sufficient machinery and equipment for ongoing projects and operations.
For the next few months, businesses are planning to increase investments in several areas. These include building new facilities, relocating and renovating stores, opening new branches, and purchasing new machinery and equipment to scale up on production and prepare for upcoming projects.
The employment sub-index was 50.2 for both the current month and 1M ahead. Continuing the trend from previous months, businesses expressed the need to hire employees to meet their operational needs and to replace those who have resigned.
The costs sub-index was 49.6 for the current month and 49.9 for 1M ahead. This indicates that, in general, businesses expected the costs of running their businesses to decline in June and July 2024, in line with expectations of slower market activity and lower sales.
However, survey results showed that the oil and gas related sector notably influenced these sub-indices due to maintenance activities which concluded in mid-June, resulting in lower operational costs compared to May. For the month ahead, the sector expected costs to be even lower compared to June, as operations are expected to return to normal in July.
Meanwhile, other sectors that shared expectations of higher operating costs attributed this to increased salary costs from a higher employee headcount in June and July.
Small businesses generally expressed optimistic sentiments in June compared to May, in terms of business size, mainly due to expectations of improvement in sales and new projects.
On the contrary, micro-sized businesses generally owed their slight pessimism to slower market activity and dampened demand for their foods and services. Medium- and large-sized businesses expected similar business conditions in June compared to the previous month.
