Find Freight, Shipping and Logistics expertise in Brunei Darussalam

Freight and carriage of goods and cargo takes place to, from and within Brunei via sea, air and land. The small country has a well-connected framework consisting of 2,971 km of roadway, the majority of which are paved (2008). The country’s only deepwater port and trading hub is Muara Port, operated by the Ports Department of the Government of Brunei. It offers a dedicated container terminal, with a quay length of 250m and a max draft of 12.5m (2008). The authorities are putting efforts into developing and enhancing its transhipment activities. Operations in the port are served by a number of stevedoring companies. The country also has two other ports located at Lumut and Seria. Merchant marine in the country totals nine – eight liquefied gas containers and one chemical tanker.

The publicly operated Brunei International Airport is the primary national airport and site of air freight. It boasts a cargo terminal with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes of cargo.

Brunei is a net exporter with exports of goods totalling €6.2 billion in 2010, compared to imports of goods valued at €3.9 billion. The export market is dominated by Japan, with a 45.3% share in 2010, followed by South Korea and Australia with shares of 16.8% and 11.9% respectively. The main import partners are Singapore, Malaysia and the European Union with shares of 33.6%, 16.0% and 13.9% in 2010.

Brunei possesses both native and international freight and shipping firms. Major examples such as UPS and DHL have bases within the country, which they combine with their operations across south-east Asia. Native firms also have a broad range of operations, with examples including Air Cat Forwarding, Brunei Transporting Company, BT Forwarding Company and Tri-Star Shipping & Trading Company SDN BHD.

The Brunei Freight Forwarders Association represents and regulates the profession. The activities of its members include courier service operators, customs brokers, land transport and handling equipment, warehouse operators, logistics management, cargo management services, and air and sea charter operators.

The Ports Department is an example of the close government chaperoning of the industry. In conjunction with policy guidance from the Ministry of Communications, it has numerous strategic plans to develop Muara Port and its services into a greater trading hub, and hopes to see an increase in the number of ship calls, shipping routes, containers and break bulk cargo.