Jordanian exports up by 6% in 2014 — official data

AMMAN – Jordan's overall exports rose by 6 per cent in 2014 to reach JD5.9 billion compared to JD5.6 billion in 2013, official data showed Wednesday. 

According to the foreign trade report released by the Department of Statistics (DoS), national exports were JD5.1 billion, while re-exports stood at JD790 million last year.

DoS report indicated that imports went up by 3.1 per cent to JD16.1 billion last year from JD15.6 billion in 2013. 

Kingdom’s trade deficit, the value imports exceeding those of exports, increased by 1.4 per cent last year to JD10.19 billion compared to JD10.04 billion the year before. 

According to DoS, the coverage ratio of total exports to imports has increased to 36.9 per cent from 35.9 per cent in 2013. 

Garments, fruits, vegetables, potash, fertilisers and crude phosphate were among the main products that increased in value last year, while pharmaceutical exports saw a drop in volume. 

The DoS report showed that exports to Greater Arab Free Trade Area countries went up by 3.3 per cent and to non-Arab Asian countries by 12.8 per cent, USA by 9.7 per cent and EU by 26.3 per cent. 

Imports from Arab countries and non-Arab Asian countries also increased by 1.3 per cent and 9 per cent respectively, while imports from the EU went down by 6.4 per cent and the US by 3.3 per cent.