ACI data reveal 19 per cent drop in Jordanian exports to Iraq

AMMAN — Amman Chamber of Industry’s (ACI) exports to Iraq declined by 19 per cent during the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period of 2014 due to the security conditions in the neighbouring country, ACI Director General Nael Husami said Monday.

According to a statistical report, ACI exports to Iraq in the first three months of 2015 reached JD190 million, compared to JD235 million in 2014’s first quarter.

Husami warned against the drop of exports to Iraq, calling for intensive efforts to address the challenges, most important of which is the low number of Iraqi trucks that enter the Kingdom empty to load local goods, and the long time they wait to reach the customs exchange park.

Despite the increase of the total ACI exports to external markets in the first quarter of 2015, it was not a source of relief to Husami. He noted that the rise was led by the mining industries sector, while the manufacturing sector, which employs more workforce, witnessed a decline.

According to the report, ACI total exports in the January-March period stood at JD1.08 billion compared to JD1.07 billion in the same period of 2014.