Jordan's imports drop by 12.5% in 7 months

AMMAN — The total value of the Kingdom's imports during the first seven months of this year declined by 12.5 per cent, compared to the same period of last year, statistics showed Monday.

The decrease was attributed to the drop in the value of imported oil and its derivatives as well as steel. 

The value of the Kingdom's total exports also went down by 7 per cent to JD3.2 billion. 

The Department of Statistics (DoS) indicated that national exports dropped by 7.7 per cent by the end of July 2015 to JD2.7 billion.

Data showed an increase in the value of exported clothes and raw phosphate, and a decline in the value of exported fruit and vegetables, raw potash, pharmaceuticals and fertilisers.

As a result, the commercial balance deficit went down by 15.7 per cent in the January-July period of 2015, compared to the same period of the previous year.

Separately, Zarqa Chamber of Industry President Thabit Wirr said the value of the chamber's total exports during the eight months of the year reached $576 million, 1 per cent less than the same period of the previous year.

He indicated that the chamber, covering Zarqa and Mafraq governorates, issued a total of 9,012 certificates of origin during the first eight months of 2015.

Leather and embroideries sector topped the list of the chamber's exports, with a value of $342 million, followed by supply, food, agricultural and livestock at $77 million, and the engineering, electric and IT at $48 million.

Exports to the North American markets accounted for 56.5 per cent of the chamber's total exports with a value of $32 million, Wirr added.