Amman, Jordan – Jordan’s total exports experienced positive growth of 6.3 percent in the first quarter of 2023, reaching a total of JD2.118 billion ($2.98 billion). This is compared to JD1.993 billion ($2.80 billion) recorded in the same period of 2022, according to official figures.
Monthly data released by the Department of Statistics on Sunday revealed that the country’s national exports increased by 8.8 percent, amounting to JD1.975 billion ($2.77 billion) in the first quarter of 2023, compared to JD1.815 billion ($2.55 billion) in the same period of the previous year. However, the value of re-exports during this period declined by 19.1 percent, totaling JD144 million ($202 million), compared to JD178 million ($250 million) previously.
On the other hand, imports in the first quarter of the current year totaled JD4.514 billion ($6.34 billion), reflecting a 5.6 percent increase from the JD4.276 billion ($6.00 billion) registered in the same period last year.
Based on these figures, the foreign trade deficit rose by 4.9 percent to JD2.395 billion ($3.37 billion), compared to JD2.283 billion ($3.21 billion) recorded in the same period last year.
Looking at the monthly level, total exports, including re-exports, reached JD655.2 million ($920 million) in March 2023, indicating a decline of 15.6 percent compared to the same month of the previous year.
Similarly, national exports in March of the current year dropped by 15.6 percent to JD603.3 million ($848 million), while re-exports decreased by 14.8 percent, totaling JD51.9 million ($73 million).
In March 2023, imports amounted to JD1.504 billion ($2.11 billion), representing a slight decline of 0.8 percent.
The foreign trade deficit increased by 14.7 percent to JD848.7 million ($1.19 billion) in March 2023 compared to the figure recorded in the same month of the previous year.