ACI witnessed 4% rise in export value during 1st 5 months of 2021

AMMAN — The value of exports of the Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) went up by 4 per cent during the first five months of 2021 compared with the same period of 2019, ACI figures showed on Tuesday.

Statistical data showed that ACI exports in the January-May period of 2021 totalled some JD1.926 billion, compared with JD1.857 billion in the same period of 2019, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

ACI Chairman Fathi Jaghbir told Petra that the numbers achieved by the chamber are “encouraging and have important indications”, especially that it is compared with the same period of 2019 that preceded the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jaghbir noted that most industrial sectors, except for the mining and garment industries, have registered increases and expect further improvements this year.

The increase in exports shows a “remarkable” recovery in Jordanian industries, which shows that the industrial sector will lead the recovery phase in the post-pandemic period, he added.

Such developments require official institutions to implement further improvements in the investment and business environments in the Kingdom,  the ACC official said.

The chairman noted that exports to the US over the five-month period went up by 55 per cent, making it the top country receiving Jordanian commodities with a value of JD323 million, compared with JD208 million in the same period of 2019.

The exports in the January-May period consisted of JD441 million in the chemical industries and cosmetics sector, JD385 million in the mining industries and JD311 million in the supplies, food, agricultural and livestock sectors.

Meanwhile, ACC Director General Nael Hussami said that the increase of ACC exports in the five-month period, despite the repercussions of the pandemic, shows “the strength of the Jordanian industries and their ability to overcome challenges and access new markets”.