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Brunei Darussalam
(information)
Population as of 2020: 437,479 168 of 193
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Region: Southeast Asia
Nominal G.D.P. in 2024: $15.46 billion 141 of 193
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Top Exports
Total exports: **~$11.2–11.4 billion (2024)**
**Extremely concentrated economy:** hydrocarbons dominate **~75–85%+ of exports**
| Rank | Export Category | Notes |
| ---- | ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1 | **Mineral fuels (crude oil & LNG)** ⭐| ~75%+ of exports; dominant sector |
| 2 | **Organic chemicals** | ~18–20% (petrochemicals) |
| 3 | **Fertilizers (urea, ammonia)** | ~3–4% |
| 4 | **Machinery & industrial equipment** | Small but growing |
| 5 | **Ships & boats** | Occasional high-value exports |
| 6 | **Iron & steel products** | Minor industrial exports |
| 7 | **Aircraft & aerospace parts** | Small but present |
| 8 | **Electrical machinery & equipment** | Limited diversification |
| 9 | **Chemicals (other industrial)** | Petrochemical-related |
| 10 | **Food & agricultural products** | Very small share |
Key individual export products (by value)
| Rank | Product | Notes |
| ---- | ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------- |
| 11 | **Crude petroleum oils** | #1 export by far |
| 12 | **Liquefied natural gas (LNG)** | Core energy export |
| 13 | **Refined petroleum products** | Secondary energy export |
| 14 | **Aromatic hydrocarbons (petrochemicals)** | Major chemical export |
| 15 | **Methanol & other organic chemicals** | Large petrochemical sector |
| 16 | **Nitrogen fertilizers (urea)** | Key industrial export |
| 17 | **Ammonia** | Fertilizer feedstock |
| 18 | **Polyethylene & plastics inputs** | Derived from oil/gas |
| 19 | **Iron/steel articles** | Small-scale manufacturing |
| 20 | **Machinery components** | Minor exports |
Key Takeaways
* 🛢️ **Hydrocarbons dominate overwhelmingly**
* Oil + gas + refined products make up **~75–85%+ of exports**
* 🧪 **Petrochemicals are the second pillar**
* Organic chemicals (methanol, aromatics) are **~20% of exports**
* ⚠️ **Extreme concentration risk**
* The economy depends heavily on:
* global oil prices
* LNG demand
* 🏭 **Limited diversification**
* Small exports in:
* machinery
* metals
* equipment
* 🌏 **Classic energy-export economy**
* Similar structure to:
* Qatar
* Kuwait
* Oman
Top Importers of Brunei’s Exports (2024)
| Rank | Country | Notes |
| ---- | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| 1 | **China** | Largest buyer (~25–30%+); crude oil and LNG. |
| 2 | **Japan** | Major LNG importer (long-term contracts). |
| 3 | **South Korea** | LNG and petroleum imports. |
| 4 | **Australia** | Petrochemicals and energy trade. |
| 5 | **Singapore** | Regional refining and trading hub. |
| 6 | **Thailand** | Energy imports (oil and gas). |
| 7 | **India** | Crude oil and petrochemicals. |
| 8 | **Malaysia** | Regional trade; energy and industrial goods. |
| 9 | **Indonesia** | Petroleum and regional energy trade. |
| 10 | **United States** | Smaller share; energy and chemical products. |
Key Patterns
* 🛢️ **Energy determines trade partners**
* Countries like **China, Japan, South Korea, and India** dominate because of **oil and LNG demand**
* 🌏 **Asia overwhelmingly dominates**
* Nearly all exports go to **Asian economies**, reflecting:
* geographic proximity
* energy demand
* ⚡ **LNG contracts shape long-term trade**
* **Japan and South Korea** are key buyers due to **stable LNG supply agreements**
* 🔁 **Trading hubs play a supporting role**
* **Singapore** acts as a **regional refining and re-export center**
