Statistics show decline in Jordan's exports, imports

AMMAN — Jordan's total exports during the first nine months of 2015 amounted to JD4.16 billion, a 7.2 per cent drop from the level recorded during the same period of 2014, the Department of Statistics (DoS) announced Monday. 

National exports were 7.3 per cent lower at JD3.6 billion of the total, whereas re-exports came at JD0.6 billion, a 6.5 per cent decline. 

The statistics also showed a 13.1 per cent fall in imports during the first nine months of 2015 to JD10.58 billion.

Consequently, the trade balance registered a JD6.42 billion deficit, bringing in the gap down by 16.5 per cent during the first nine months of 2015, compared to the same period of 2014.

Export of clothes, potash and phosphate went up by 10.1, 0.2 and 10.2 per cent respectively, while the export value of fruit and vegetables, pharmaceuticals and fertilisers dropped by 3.9, 7.4 and 26.4 per cent in the first three quarters of 2015.

Imports that registered an increase in their values during the January-September period of 2015, compared to the same period of 2014, included machinery (13.7 per cent); vehicles, motorbikes and their spare parts (14.2 per cent); electric devices (22.9 per cent); and jewellery and precious minerals (53 per cent), DoS data revealed.

Imports of raw oil and its derivatives declined by 48.7 per cent, and imports of iron and its products also dropped by 9.3 per cent, during the first nine months of 2015, compared to the same period of 2014.