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Brunei
Your Brunei cheat sheet that cover customs clearance and import duties for your eCommerce international shipping needs, eCommerce insights, and more
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Brunei's B2C Customs Clearance Info and eCommerce Insights
| ID | BN |
| Capital | Bandar Seri Begawan |
| Official Language | Malay |
| Currency | Brunei Dollar (BND) |
| Population Size | 435 thousand |
Brunei’s eCommerce Market
Brunei’s eCommerce market value is US$75 million in 2020 and is expected to grow to US$104 million by 2024.
Online shopping activities are becoming more popular in Brunei as consumers find it more convenient and time-saving. Many are turning to eCommerce websites, social media, and online marketplaces to shop, and these online sales are largely driven by millennials.
With Brunei emerging with the highest social media market penetration in the region – almost double the regional average – it could potentially open doors to new opportunities for eCommerce businesses.
Customs & regulations
Import Duty and Taxes
Brunei maintains a de minimis value threshold of BND400 on inbound B2C eCommerce goods.
Goods below this threshold also do not require a Customs Import Declaration.
| Shipment value below BND400 | |
|---|---|
| Tax | 0% |
| Shipment value above BND400 | |
|---|---|
| Value-Added Tax (VAT) | 7% |
| Import Duties | 0% |
Restricted and Forbidden Goods
Restricted items that must meet certain conditions before going through customs clearance:
- Gambling machines
- Used motorcycles, motorcars, and lorries; omnibuses
- Alcoholic liquors, and more
Prohibited items that cannot be imported into the market:
- Narcotic drugs
- Articles with imprint of any currency note, banknote or coin
- Cigarettes without health warning on the packages
- Fire crackers known as “double bangers”
- Pencil-like “syringe”, and more
This list may change depending on government regulations. Visit official customs page for the latest version.
Documentation
Documents required by Brunei’s customs clearance include:
1. Packing List
This gives product details, shipment volume in kilogram or cubic meter, and serves as a checklist to ensure shipment has been packed correctly or not.
2. Commercial Invoice
This gives total shipment value usually in US dollar and helps to determine the import duties and taxes, and eligibility of shipment.
If you are shipping without a logistics partner that can clear customs on your behalf, you may need to include the following shipping documentation as well:
- Certificate of origin
- Bill of lading or airway bill
- Insurance policy
- Other relevant permits, licenses, and certificates
Additional information
Payment preferences:
According to Brunei’s Authority for Info-communications Technology, 84% of Bruneians prefer making payment using credit or debit cards. This is followed by online bank transfers (36%), e-wallets (27%) and offline payment or cash on delivery (19%). ECommerce merchants looking to enter the market would do well to have multiple payment methods to attract more consumers.
Non-working days in 2020
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays are non-working days. Please expect shipment delays on these days.
List of public holidays:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Jan 1 | New Year’s Day |
| Jan 25 | Chinese New Year |
| Feb 23 | National Day Holiday |
| Mar 22 | Israk Mikraj |
| Apr 24 | First Day of Ramadhan |
| May 10 | Nuzul Al-Quran |
| May 24-27 | Hari Raya Aidil Fitri |
| Jun 1 | Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day |
| Jul 15 | H.M. The Sultan’s Birthday (observed) |
| Jul 31 | Hari Raya Aidil Adha |
| Aug 20 | Al-Hijra |
| Oct 29 | Maulid Nabi |
| Dec 25 | Christmas |
Market Opportunities
Popular eCommerce Item Categories
- Fashion Apparel and Accessories
- Beauty & Skin Care
- Home & Living
- Electronics & Media
Popular Shopping Seasons
| Event Name | Event Period |
|---|---|
| Brunei Cybershop Fest | Jan-Feb 28 |
| Singles’ Day | Nov 11 |
| Black Friday | Nov 23 |
| Brunei Salebration | Dec 1 |
| 12.12 Online Fever | Dec 12 |
| Ramadan | Depends on the Islamic calendar |
Popular Shipping Destinations
| EXPORTS | |
|---|---|
| Rank | Market |
| 1 | Japan |
| 2 | South Korea |
| 3 | Thailand |
| 4 | Malaysia |
| 5 | India |
| IMPORTS | |
|---|---|
| Rank | Market |
| 1 | China |
| 2 | Singapore |
| 3 | Malaysia |
| 4 | United States |
| 5 | Germany |
Sources:
Worldometers (2020) | Statista (2020) | Brunei Darussalam National Single Window (2017) | Authority for Info-communications Technology (2018) | Office Holidays (2020) | Borneo Bulletin (2018) | Borneo Bulletin (2018) | Central Intelligence Agency (2018) | Ministry of Finance and Economy Brunei Darussalam (2018) | World Factbook (2020)
Updated as of 30 Jan 2020.
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