Bermuda sees higher surplus as foreign receipts increase
Bermuda current-account surplus widened to $609 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, an increase of more than 50 per cent year over year.
The surplus shows Bermuda is earning more from the rest of the world than it is spending, as financial inflows from international transactions far exceed outflows.
The increase was driven by stronger business services income, rising investment earnings and growth in employee compensation, according to the latest Balance of Payments and International Investment Position report released by the Government’s Department of Statistics.
Business services remained a major driver of economic activity, accounting for 27.4 per cent of current account receipts, while employee compensation represented the largest share at 40.7 per cent.
The report showed Bermuda’s primary income surplus climbed to $830 million in the quarter, an increase of $209 million compared with the same period in 2024. The gain was attributed largely to higher investment income and employee compensation.
At the same time, the services account surplus improved modestly to $171 million. Financial services exports strengthened significantly, with receipts from non-residents helping lift the business services surplus by $30 million. However, travel services weakened, declining by $24 million as business travel receipts fell and outbound travel spending rose.
Bermuda’s goods trade deficit widened to $331 million after imports rose, particularly in transport equipment and finished machinery.
The report also highlighted a stronger international investment position. Bermuda’s net international investment position rose to $7.4 billion at the end of the fourth quarter, up from $6 billion in the previous quarter. Foreign assets held by Bermuda residents climbed to $18.7 billion, while foreign liabilities declined to $11.2 billion.
Financial corporations accounted for the largest positive position, holding net foreign assets of $10.2 billion, largely through loans and portfolio investments. Non-financial corporations, by contrast, maintained a net liability position of $2.2 billion.
• See the full report under Related Media
You must be Registered or to post comment or to vote.
