The United States and Brunei engage regularly on trade and investment issues, including under our 2002 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.
In 2019, Brunei GDP was an estimated $12.5 billion (current market exchange rates); real GDP was up by an estimated 3.9%; and the population was 447 thousand. (Source: IMF)
U.S. goods and services trade with Brunei totaled an estimated $411 million in 2019. Exports were $356 million; imports were $55 million. The U.S. goods and services trade surplus with Brunei was $300 million in 2019.
Brunei is currently our 133rd largest goods trading partner with $329 million in total (two way) goods trade during 2019. Goods exports totaled $288 million; goods imports totaled $41 million. The U.S. goods trade surplus with Brunei was $246 million in 2019.
Trade in services with Brunei (exports and imports) totaled an estimated $82 million in 2019. Services exports were $68 million; services imports were $14 million. The U.S. services trade surplus with Brunei was $54 million in 2019.
Exports
- Brunei was the United States' 120th largest goods export market in 2019.
- U.S. goods exports to Brunei in 2019 were $288 million, up 8.2% ($22 million) from 2018 and up 187.3% from 2009.
- The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: aircraft ($157 million), machinery ($33 million), mineral fuels ($24 million), miscellaneous chemical products ($17 million), and special other (low value estimates) ($10 million).
- U.S. total exports of agricultural products to Brunei totaled $5 million in 2019. Leading domestic export categories include: snack foods not elsewhere specified or indicated ($1 million), processed vegetables ($1 million), chocolate & cocoa products ($523 thousand), prepared food ($399 thousand), and hay ($328 thousand).
- U.S. exports of services to Brunei were an estimated $68 million in 2019, 19.3% ($11 million) more than 2018, and 8.1% less than 2009 levels. Leading services exports from the U.S. to Brunei were in the financial services, maintenance and repair services, and travel sectors.
Imports
- Brunei was the United States' 146th largest supplier of goods imports in 2019.
- U.S. goods imports from Brunei totaled $41 million in 2019, down 57.7% ($57 million) from 2018, and down 0.3% from 2009.
- The top import categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: iron and steel products ($24 million), special other (returns) ($11 million), knit apparel ($4 million), organic chemicals ($678 thousand), and machinery ($588 thousand).
- There were no agricultural products imported from Brunei in 2019.
- U.S. imports of services from Brunei were an estimated $14 million in 2019, 7.7% ($1 million) more than 2018, and 180% greater than 2009 levels. Leading services imports from Brunei to the U.S. were in the travel, financial services, and transportation sectors.
Trade Balance
- The U.S. goods trade surplus with Brunei was $246 million in 2019, a 46.7% increase ($78 million) over 2018.
- The United States had a services trade surplus of an estimated $54 million with Brunei in 2019, up 22.7% from 2018.
Investment
- U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Brunei (stock) was $15 million in 2019, unchanged from 2018. There is no information on the distribution of U.S. FDI in Brunei.
- No data on Brunei's FDI in the U.S. are available.
- Sales of services in Brunei by majority U.S.-owned affiliates were $120 million in 2017 (latest data available). There were no sales of services in the United States by majority Brunei owned firms in 2017.
