Jordan Times
Monday, September 18, 2006
Exports rise by 13%
during H1
The United States is the leading importer of Jordanian products, totalling 30.9
per cent of all exports
AMMAN (JT) — The country’s exports rose by 13 per cent during the first seven
months of 2006, compared to the same period last year, the Department of
Statistics (DoS) announced on Sunday.
The total value of national exports amounted to JD1,627.5 million, compared to
JD1,439.9 million during the same period of 2005.
When adding the value of re-exports to that of national exports, the total value
amounted to JD2,065.2 million, compared to JD1,723 million during the same
period of 2005, registering a 19.9 per cent increase.
Exports to countries of the Greater Arab Trade Zone constituted 42.2 per cent of
the total, while those to European Union countries and to North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries amounted to 3.5 per cent and 31.1 per cent
respectively, according to DoS.
Clothing accounted for 30 per cent of all exports, amounting to JD495.2 million,
followed by fertilisers (7.6 per cent), pharmaceutical products (7.4 per cent)
and vegetables (5.7 per cent).
Although the country’s exports rose, the country’s trade deficit also increased
from JD2,422.7 million during the first seven months of 2005 to JD2,613.9
million in the corresponding period of 2006, registering a 7.9 per cent
increase, due to a rise in imports.
According to DoS, imports amounted to JD4,679.1 million in the first seven
months of 2006 against JD4,145.7 for the same period of 2005, registering a 12.9
per cent increase.
The highest percentage of imports came from the Greater Arab Trade Zone
countries (36.1per cent), while imports from the European Union countries and
from North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries amounted to 23.3 per
cent and five per cent respectively.
The report revealed that the United States is the leading importer of Jordanian
products, totalling 30.9 per cent of all exports. Clothing remains the major
exported item to the US, constituting 92.3 per cent of all exports during the
first seven months of 2006 and amounting to JD463.8 million. Iraq ranked second,
India third and Saudi Arabia fourth.
The main commodity imported by Jordan during the first seven months of 2006 was
crude oil, which amounted to JD860.9 million. Vehicles, motorcycles and their
spare parts ranked second and amounted to JD434.1 million, followed by
machinery, and mechanical equipment and appliances, amounting to JD361.9
million, or 7.7 per cent of the total imports.
Electrical appliances ranked fourth, amounting to JD360.3 million or 7.7 per
cent of the total imports during the same period.
Saudi Arabia ranked as the leading exporter to Jordan, constituting 26.5 per
cent of total imports, equalling a sum of JD1,237.9 million, mainly crude oil
and related by-products.
Imports from China amounted to JD459.1 million or 9.8 per cent of the total,
while Germany ranked third, with total imports amounting to JD384.4 million,
mainly automobiles and their spare parts.
Imports from the US during the sated period amounted to JD214.9 million or 4.6
per cent of total imports and consisted of machinery, equipment and appliances.