Trade Profile

Brunei Darussalam: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Brunei is highly dependent on exports (57,4% of GDP in 2020), and foreign trade represented over 110% of its GDP in 2020 (World Bank, 2022). The Sultanate's exports are dominated by the hydrocarbon sector, which benefits from a higher demand from New Zealand, South Korea and Australia. The same applies to the liquefied natural gas, which is exported especially to Japan (as a result of the problems related to the nuclear sector). The main products that Brunei imports are mineral fuels, food, vehicles, metals and machinery (Ministry of Finance and Economy, 2021).

Japan remains the main export partner of Brunei (22.4% of total exports in 2020), followed by China (17.3%), Singapore (15.9%), Australia (11.8%), Malaysia (6.8%) and India with 5.4% of total exports (OEC, 2022). The main suppliers are Singapore (17%), Malaysia (16.3%), China (10.9%) and Kazhakstan with 7% of total imports (OEC, 2022). Imports to Brunei reached 4.95 billion USD.

Brunei's trade balance shifted to a surplus of BND 311.1 million in November 2021 (229 million USD) from a gap of BND 172 million in the same month a year ago (126.6 million USD). This was the fifth straight month of surplus, on the back of a jump in exports as commodity prices rose further. Sales surged 144% yoy to BND 1,331.4 million, with shipments jumping for mineral fuels (166.4%), and chemicals (83.7%). The highest share of exports went to Australia, accounting for 22.9% of the total, Japan (21.3%), and Singapore (16.6%). Meanwhile, imports grew 42.2% yoy to BND 1,020.3 million, largely due to mineral fuels (126.9%). The highest share of imports came from Malaysia, representing 34.3% of the total, Russia (26.7%), and Japan (12.6%). Considering the first eleven months of the year, the trade surplus jumped 72.4% to BND 2.93 billion (2.15 billion USD) from BND 1.70 billion (1.25 million USD) in the same period of 2020, with exports rising 60.2% and imports growing 57.1% (Department of Economic Planning and Development, Brunei, 2022).

Brunei wishes to liberalise its trade further and has eliminated import duties on 99.6% of its tariff line with ASEAN (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia). However, the country does not have a regulatory control agency, a fact which hinders the drafting of formal trade policies. The country is also part of the regional grouping Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, which aims to increase the economic integration of these countries into a vibrant economy.

Foreign Trade Indicators	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Imports of Goods (million USD)	3,085	4,164	5,103	5,342	8,570
Exports of Goods (million USD)	5,571	6,574	7,039	6,608	11,037
Imports of Services (million USD)	1,220	1,546	1,777	1,177	902
Exports of Services (million USD)	533	551	599	333	205
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change)	1	28	14	-2	29
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change)	-3	3	15	8	9
Trade Balance (million USD)	2,403	2,365	2,211	1,359	2,679
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP)	85	94	109	110	147
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP)	36	42	51	53	67
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP)	50	52	58	57	80

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers (% of Exports)	2021
Singapore	21.4%
Japan	20.3%
China	20.1%
Australia	12.5%
Philippines (the)	5.0%
Malaysia	5.0%
Thailand	4.7%
India	4.0%
Vietnam	1.8%
Indonesia	1.7%
Hong Kong SAR, China	0.9%
South Korea	0.6%
United Arab Emirates	0.2%
Bangladesh	0.2%
Sri Lanka	0.2%
United Kingdom	0.1%
United States	0.1%
Chile	0.0%
Italy	0.0%
Germany	0.0%
See More Countries	20.7%

Main Suppliers (% of Imports)	2021
Malaysia	22.3%
Russia	15.3%
Saudi Arabia	10.9%
Singapore	8.7%
China	6.7%
Australia	5.1%
Japan	3.9%
Indonesia	3.2%
Norway	3.0%
United States	2.6%
United Arab Emirates	2.1%
South Korea	1.9%
Greece	1.4%
Nigeria	1.2%
Thailand	1.1%
Germany	1.0%
Colombia	0.9%
United Kingdom	0.8%
Qatar	0.8%
Netherlands	0.7%
See More Countries	36.1%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

Main Products

11.1 bn USD of products exported in 2021
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons	30.1%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals	28.4%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude	19.5%
Cyclic hydrocarbonsCyclic hydrocarbons	15.9%
Acyclic alcohols and their halogenated,...Acyclic alcohols and their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives	1.8%
Parts suitable for use solely or principally with...Parts suitable for use solely or principally with internal combustion piston engine of heading 8407 or 8408	0.8%
Oils and other products of the distillation of...Oils and other products of the distillation of high temperature coal tar; similar products in which the weight of the aromatic constituents exceeds that of the non-aromatic constituents	0.6%
Parts of aircraft and spacecraft of heading 8801...Parts of aircraft and spacecraft of heading 8801 or 8802, n.e.s.	0.4%
Crustaceans, whether in shell or not, live, fresh,...Crustaceans, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine, even smoked, incl. crustaceans in shell cooked by steaming or by boiling in water; flours, meals and pellets of crustaceans, fit for human consumption	0.2%
Acyclic hydrocarbonsAcyclic hydrocarbons	0.2%
Reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and...Reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, n.e.s. (excl. rubber accelerators)	0.1%
Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots of...Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots of iron or steel (excl. slag, scale and other waste from the production of iron or steel; radioactive waste and scrap; fragments of pigs, blocks or other primary forms of pig iron or spiegeleisen)	0.1%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702)	0.1%
Parts suitable for use solely or principally with...Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machinery of heading 8425 to 8430, n.e.s.	0.1%
See More Products	4.3%

8.6 bn USD of products imported in 2021
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude	60.2%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals	4.6%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702)	2.7%
Coal; briquettes, ovoids and similar solid fuels...Coal; briquettes, ovoids and similar solid fuels manufactured from coal	1.6%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006)	1.3%
Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for...Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like, incl. pressure-reducing valves and thermostatically controlled valves; parts thereof	0.8%
Parts suitable for use solely or principally with...Parts suitable for use solely or principally with internal combustion piston engine of heading 8407 or 8408	0.7%
Automatic data-processing machines and units...Automatic data-processing machines and units thereof; magnetic or optical readers, machines for transcribing data onto data media in coded form and machines for processing such data, n.e.s.	0.7%
Preparations of a kind used in animal feedingPreparations of a kind used in animal feeding	0.6%
Cyclic hydrocarbonsCyclic hydrocarbons	0.6%
Telephone sets, incl. telephones for cellular...Telephone sets, incl. telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, incl. apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network [such as a local or wide area network]; parts thereof (excl. than transmission or reception apparatus of heading 8443, 8525, 8527 or 8528)	0.6%
Waters, incl. mineral waters and aerated waters,...Waters, incl. mineral waters and aerated waters, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured, and other non-alcoholic beverages (excl. fruit or vegetable juices and milk)	0.5%
Tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, of...Tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, of iron or steel (excl. products of cast iron)	0.5%
Parts of aircraft and spacecraft of heading 8801...Parts of aircraft and spacecraft of heading 8801 or 8802, n.e.s.	0.5%
Turbojets, turbopropellers and other gas turbinesTurbojets, turbopropellers and other gas turbines	0.5%
Light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating...Light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating cranes, and other vessels the navigability of which is subsidiary to their main function; floating docks, floating or submersible drilling or production platforms (excl. fishing vessels and warships)	0.4%
Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other bakers'...Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other bakers' wares, whether or not containing cocoa; communion wafers, empty cachets of a kind suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice paper and similar products	0.4%
Slag, ash and residues containing metals, arsenic...Slag, ash and residues containing metals, arsenic or their compounds (excl. those from the manufacture of iron or steel)	0.4%
Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic...Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses; antisera and other blood fractions and immunological products, whether or not modified or obtained by means of biotechnological processes; vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excl. yeasts) and similar products	0.4%
Pumps for liquids, whether or not fitted with a...Pumps for liquids, whether or not fitted with a measuring device (excl. ceramic pumps and secretion aspirating pumps for medical use and medical pumps carried on or implanted in the body); liquid elevators (excl. pumps); parts thereof	0.3%
Air or vacuum pumps (excl. gas compound elevators...Air or vacuum pumps (excl. gas compound elevators and pneumatic elevators and conveyors); air or other gas compressors and fans; ventilating or recycling hoods incorporating a fan, whether or not fitted with filters; parts thereof	0.3%
RiceRice	0.3%
Air conditioning machines comprising a...Air conditioning machines comprising a motor-driven fan and elements for changing the temperature and humidity, incl. those machines in which the humidity cannot be separately regulated; parts thereof	0.3%
Live bovine animalsLive bovine animals	0.3%
Diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing,...Diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, and certified reference materials (excl. compound diagnostic reagents designed to be administered to the patient, blood-grouping reagents, animal blood prepared for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses and vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms and similar products)	0.3%
Boards, panels, consoles, desks, cabinets and...Boards, panels, consoles, desks, cabinets and other bases, equipped with two or more apparatus of heading 8535 or 8536, for electric control or the distribution of electricity, incl. those incorporating instruments or apparatus of chapter 90, and numerical control apparatus (excl. switching apparatus for line telephony or line telegraphy)	0.3%
Tube or pipe fittings "e.g. couplings, elbows,...Tube or pipe fittings "e.g. couplings, elbows, sleeves", of iron or steel	0.3%
Insulated "incl. enamelled or anodised" wire,...Insulated "incl. enamelled or anodised" wire, cable "incl. coaxial cable" and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors	0.3%
Instruments and appliances used in medical,...Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, incl. scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight-testing instruments, n.e.s.	0.3%
Parts suitable for use solely or principally with...Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machinery of heading 8425 to 8430, n.e.s.	0.2%
Containers, incl. containers for the transport of...Containers, incl. containers for the transport of fluids, specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes of transport	0.2%
Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.s. (excl. seats...Furniture and parts thereof, n.e.s. (excl. seats and medical, surgical, dental or veterinary furniture)	0.2%
Machines and mechanical appliances having...Machines and mechanical appliances having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter; parts thereof	0.2%
Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles...Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, motor vehicles for the transport of goods and special purpose motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705, n.e.s.	0.2%
Reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and...Reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, n.e.s. (excl. rubber accelerators)	0.2%
Centrifuges, incl. centrifugal dryers (excl. those...Centrifuges, incl. centrifugal dryers (excl. those for isotope separation); filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus, for liquids or gases; parts thereof (excl. artificial kidneys)	0.2%
Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not...Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not coloured	0.2%
Sauce and preparations therefor; mixed condiments...Sauce and preparations therefor; mixed condiments and mixed seasonings; mustard flour and meal, whether or not prepared, and mustard	0.2%
Fish, fresh or chilled (excl. fish fillets and...Fish, fresh or chilled (excl. fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304)	0.2%
Pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed with meat...Pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed with meat or other substances or otherwise prepared, such as spaghetti, macaroni, noodles, lasagne, gnocchi, ravioli, cannelloni; couscous, whether or not prepared	0.2%
Food preparations, n.e.s.Food preparations, n.e.s.	0.2%
Articles of plastics and articles of other...Articles of plastics and articles of other materials of heading 3901 to 3914, n.e.s.	0.2%
New pneumatic tyres, of rubberNew pneumatic tyres, of rubber	0.2%
Structures and parts of structures "e.g., bridges...Structures and parts of structures "e.g., bridges and bridge-sections, lock-gates, towers, lattice masts, roofs, roofing frameworks, doors and windows and their frames and thresholds for doors, shutters, balustrades, pillars and columns", of iron or steel; plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for use in structures, of iron or steel (excl. prefabricated buildings of heading 9406)	0.2%
Steam turbines and other vapour turbines; parts...Steam turbines and other vapour turbines; parts thereof	0.2%
Milk and cream, concentrated or containing added...Milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter	0.2%
Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and...Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies, and similar articles, of any material	0.2%
Organic surface-active agents (excl. soap);...Organic surface-active agents (excl. soap); surface-active preparations, washing preparations, incl. auxiliary washing preparations, and cleaning preparations, whether or not containing soap (excl. those of heading 3401)	0.2%
Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel,...Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width >= 600 mm, hot-rolled or cold-rolled "cold-reduced", clad, plated or coated	0.2%
Wheat or meslin flourWheat or meslin flour	0.2%
Ethers, ether-alcohols, ether-phenols,...Ethers, ether-alcohols, ether-phenols, ether-alcohol-phenols, alcohol peroxides, ether peroxide, ketone peroxides, whether or not chemically defined, and their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives	0.2%
Electric accumulators, incl. separators therefor,...Electric accumulators, incl. separators therefor, whether or not square or rectangular; parts thereof (excl. spent and those of unhardened rubber or textiles)	0.2%
Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations...Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations for the care of the skin, incl. sunscreen or suntan preparations (excl. medicaments); manicure or pedicure preparations	0.2%
Fresh strawberries, raspberries, blackberries,...Fresh strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, back, white or red currants, gooseberries and other edible fruits (excl. nuts, bananas, dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, guavas, mangoes, mangosteens, papaws "papayas", citrus fruit, grapes, melons, apples, pears, quinces, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums and sloes)	0.1%
Articles for the conveyance or packaging of goods,...Articles for the conveyance or packaging of goods, of plastics; stoppers, lids, caps and other closures, of plastics	0.1%
Made-up articles of textile materials, incl. dress...Made-up articles of textile materials, incl. dress patterns, n.e.s.	0.1%
Chocolate and other food preparations containing...Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa	0.1%
Malt extract; food preparations of flour, groats,...Malt extract; food preparations of flour, groats, meal, starch or malt extract, not containing cocoa or containing < 40% by weight of cocoa calculated on a totally defatted basis, n.e.s.; food preparations of milk, cream, butter milk, sour milk, sour cream, whey, yogurt, kephir, and similar goods of heading 0401 to 0404, not containing cocoa or containing < 5% by weight of cocoa calculated on a totally defatted basis, n.e.s.	0.1%
Other vegetables, fresh or chilled (excl. potatoes...Other vegetables, fresh or chilled (excl. potatoes, tomatoes, alliaceous vegetables, edible brassicas, lettuce "lactuca sativa" and chicory "cichorium spp.", carrots, turnips, salad beetroot, salsify, celeriac, radishes and similar edible roots, cucumbers and gherkins, and leguminous vegatables)	0.1%
Articles of iron or steel, n.e.s. (excl. cast...Articles of iron or steel, n.e.s. (excl. cast articles)	0.1%
Electrical apparatus for switching or protecting...Electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, or for making connections to or in electrical circuits, e.g., switches, relays, fuses, surge suppressors, plugs, sockets, lamp holders and junction boxes, for a voltage <= 1.000 v (excl. control desks, cabinets, panels etc. of heading 8537)	0.1%
Monitors and projectors, not incorporating...Monitors and projectors, not incorporating television reception apparatus; reception apparatus for television, whether or not incorporating radio-broadcast receivers or sound or video recording or reproducing apparatus	0.1%
Crustaceans, whether in shell or not, live, fresh,...Crustaceans, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine, even smoked, incl. crustaceans in shell cooked by steaming or by boiling in water; flours, meals and pellets of crustaceans, fit for human consumption	0.1%
Parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying...Parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying cases and the like) suitable for use solely or principally with machines of heading 8469 to 8472, n.e.s.	0.1%
Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases,...Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverage bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition leather, of sheeting of plastics, of textile materials, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper	0.1%
Lamps and lighting fittings, incl. searchlights...Lamps and lighting fittings, incl. searchlights and spotlights, and parts thereof, n.e.s; illuminated signs, illuminated nameplates and the like having a permanently fixed light source, and parts thereof, n.e.s.	0.1%
Toilet paper and similar paper, cellulose wadding...Toilet paper and similar paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres, of a kind used for household or sanitary purposes, in rolls of a width <= 36 cm, or cut to size or shape; handkerchiefs, cleansing tissues, towels, tablecloths, serviettes, bedsheets and similar household, sanitary or hospital articles, articles of apparel and clothing accessories, of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres	0.1%
Refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerating or...Refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerating or freezing equipment, electric or other; heat pumps; parts thereof (excl. air conditioning machines of heading 8415)	0.1%
Electrical transformers, static converters, e.g....Electrical transformers, static converters, e.g. rectifiers, and inductors; parts thereof	0.1%
Instruments and apparatus for measuring or...Instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking the flow, level, pressure or other variables of liquids or gases, e.g. flow meters, level gauges, manometers, heat meters (excl. instruments and apparatus of heading 9014, 9015, 9028 or 9032)	0.1%
Maize or cornMaize or corn	0.1%
Articles and equipment for general physical...Articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics, athletics, other sports, incl. table-tennis, or outdoor games, not specified or included in this chapter or elsewhere; swimming pools and paddling pools.	0.1%
Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar...Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls' carriages; dolls; other toys; reduced-size "scale" recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds	0.1%
Articles of vulcanised rubber (excl. hard rubber),...Articles of vulcanised rubber (excl. hard rubber), n.e.s.	0.1%
Printing machinery used for printing by means of...Printing machinery used for printing by means of plates, cylinders and other printing components of heading 8442 (excl. hectograph or stencil duplicating machines, addressing machines and other office printing machines of heading 8469 to 8472); other printers, copying machines and facsimile machines, whether or not combined; parts thereof	0.1%
Cheese and curdCheese and curd	0.1%
Bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel,...Bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils	0.1%
Frozen fish (excl. fish fillets and other fish...Frozen fish (excl. fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304)	0.1%
See More Products	29.6%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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Commercial Policy

International Economic Cooperation: Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), AFTA and the ASEAN - China Free Trade Area.
Assessment of Commercial Policy: Country’s commercial policy
Barriers to exchanges
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products): 6.6%

Trade Compliance

International Conventions: Member of World Trade Organisation
International Economic Cooperation: Member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), AFTA and the ASEAN - China Free Trade Area.
Useful Resources: Royal Customs & Excise Department
National Organisation of Intellectual Property: Brunei Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO)

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