Agricultural exports to Gulf countries rising as season hits its stride

AMMAN — The Kingdom has exported more than 4,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables to Gulf Arab countries and Iraq over the past two days, a government official said on Saturday.

"The amount of exports to Gulf countries is on the rise, as demand for Jordan's agricultural produce is increasing due to its high quality and because of the shortage in agricultural production in Gulf countries during this time of the year," Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin told The Jordan Times.

A total of 2,509 tonnes of fruit and vegetables was exported to Gulf countries and Iraq on Thursday via Saudi Arabia, while on Friday, the number stood at 1,728 tonnes of agricultural produce, Haddadin said, noting that a similar amount was also exported on Saturday.

The majority of the agricultural exports were tomatoes, according to the official.

The Kingdom is among the top 10 world countries in terms of producing and exporting tomatoes, which constitute around 65 per cent of total exported agricultural produce, according to official figures.

"The production season of fruit and vegetables in the country is peaking as temperatures are rising, which means that agricultural exports will witness an increase during this month," Haddadin said.

The Gulf market is now seen as Jordan's prime importer of fruit and vegetables, consuming 83.2 per cent of the Kingdom's produce in 2015, according to the ministry. 

The Syrian and Lebanese markets followed, importing 6.6 per cent of local fruit and vegetables; while Iraq imported 5.2 per cent; Israel 3 per cent; European countries 1 per cent; and a group of other countries 1 per cent, ministry figures indicate.

The Kingdom exported 783,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables in 2015, which generated JD520 million in revenues.

Vegetables made up 82.4 per cent of last year's agricultural exports, 65 per cent of which were tomatoes.

"In addition, exports of high-value summer fruits, such as melon and watermelon have also started," Haddadin noted.

Over 3,000 tonnes of melon and watermelon was exported during April to Gulf countries and Lebanon, according to the ministry.