• China records expansion in factory activity for first time in six months

    Shenzhen, China--China's manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in six months in March. The official purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 50.8 in March from 49.1 in February, above the 50-mark separating growth from contraction and topping a median forecast of 49.9. Though the pace of growth was modest,...
  • Jordan exports pharmaceutical products worth US$874m in 2023

    AMMAN, JORDAN – Products of the Kingdom’s pharmaceutical industries and medical supplies sector moved over the past quarter century to the global level, driven by its development, quality and competitiveness, a stakeholder said. This has placed Jordan among the top countries in this strategic industry. Representative of Pharmaceutical Industries and...
  • Saudi Arabia’s oil exports fall by $13 billion in fourth quarter of 2023

    In December, oil exports fell by SAR 13.5 billion or 15.8% to SAR 72 billion ($19 billion) from SAR 85.5 billion in December 2022. The share of oil exports in total exports decreased from 78.4 percent in December 2022 to 73.1 percent in December 2023.
  • Bahrain Q4 2023 imports increase to US$3.92bn

    MANAMA, BAHRAIN - The Information eGovernment Authority (iGA) has published its foreign trade report of Bahrain for Q4 2023, covering trade balance, imports, exports of products with national origin, and re-exports. The value of imports has increased by 5 percent, reaching US$3.92 billion (BD1.476 billion) during Q4 2023 in comparison...
  • Biggest fuel refinery plant of Africa begins production

    Lagos, Nigeria - Africa's biggest diesel and aviation fuel refinery built by the continent's richest man has started production, the company said on Saturday, calling it a "big day for Nigeria". The 650,000 barrel-per-day Dangote refinery could be a game changer when fully operational by helping end Nigeria's reliance on fuel...
  • China’s new tariffs policy to hasten industrial transformation

    Beijing, China -- China's import and export tariff adjustments on some goods took effect on Monday, including implementing provisional import tariff rates lower than the most favored nation rates on 1,010 goods, implementing tariff rates on some commodities under agreements and applying preferential tariff rates to 43 least-developed countries (LDCs)....
  • Jordan’s jewelry, pharmaceutical exports rise in January-September 2023

    AMMAN, JORDAN – The Kingdom’s exports of jewelry increased by 71.5 percent during the January-September period of 2023 and pharmaceutical preparations by 28.2 percent, while other materials' grew by 12.2 percent, as per figures monitored by Petra based on official statistical data. The value of national exports of jewelry until...
  • Saudi oil and non-oil exports fall by above 17 percent in Sept

    Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia’s oil exports fell by 17.1 percent (SAR 17.2 billion or $4.58 billion) in September, mainly leading to the 17.1 percent fall in overall merchandise exports to SAR 103.8 billion, from SAR 125.3 billion in September 2022.   The share of oil exports in total exports increased...
  • UAE-Saudi non-oil trade reaches US$159bn in 2018-22

    ABU DHABI, UAE - The volume of trade exchange between the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia grew by 28 percent in 2022, reaching US$37.4 billion (AED 137.51 billion), compared to US$29 billion (AED 107.41 billion) in 2018. The total non-oil trade between the UAE and Saudi Arabia rose...
  • Iran-US non-oil trade reaches US$31m in January-July 2023

    TEHRAN, IRAN - The US Bureau of Statistics in its latest report said the trade between Iran and the United States in the first seven months of 2023 registered a 26 percent growth compared to the same period last year. The two countries traded over $31 million worth of non-oil...
  • China reports drop in exports and imports in August

    Beijing, China--China's exports and imports sank again in August, data showed Thursday, as the world's second-largest economy struggles with sluggish global demand and a wider slowdown. However, the pace of contraction slowed from the previous month and not as bad as feared. Overseas shipments sank 8.8 percent on-year, the customs authority...
  • Oil prices climb to highest level in seven months on supply fears

    Dubai, UAE--Oil prices rose to their highest in over half a year and snapped a two-week losing streak, buoyed by expectations of tightening supplies. A Middle Eastern country is widely expected to extend a voluntary 1 million barrels per day oil production cut into October, prolonging supply curbs engineered by...
  • Iraqi Trade Center to be launched at ACC’s headquarters in Jordan

    AMMAN, JORDAN - Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) and the Iraqi Embassy here agreed to open Iraqi Trade Center at ACC's headquarters ahead the end of 2023. During his meeting with Chargé d'Affairs at Iraqi Embassy, Munif Ali Hussein, ACC Head, Khalil Haj Tawfiq, said Iraq is a "key" trade...
  • Saudi Arabia’s imports from GCC countries fall by 19% in June

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia’s imports from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries fell 19 percent year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 5.51 billion in June, according to a recent report by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). UAE accounted for 65.6 percent, or SAR 3.61 billion, of the total Saudi imports,...
  • Jordan oil bill falls in H1 2023 compared to H1 2022, says government

    AMMAN, JORDAN  - The value of the Kingdom's oil bill decreased during the first half of 2023 by 15.6 percent, Jordan’s Department of Statistics (DoS) announced. According to the DoS foreign trade report, value of the Kingdom's imports of crude oil, its derivatives and mineral oils went down in the...
  • Brazilian exports to Arab countries up 8% in seven months

    Dubai, UAE -- The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) recorded a surge of 8 percent in Brazilian exports to the Arab world during the first seven months of 2023, totaling to $10.61 billion, compared to $9.825 billion in the same period in 2022. Brazilian exports to the the kingdom...
  • UAE firms operating in Ethiopia enrich bilateral ties

    There are more than 121 Emirati companies operating in the Ethiopian market, contributing to enriching relations between the two countries in the economic aspect, including Julphar Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries Manufacturers, Jenaan Investment, Masdar, Emirates Steel Arkan, DP World, and other leading Emirati companies, he adds.
  • UAE’s investments in Ethiopia touch US$2.9bn as non-oil trade expands

    Abu Dhabi, UAE-- As the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed visits Ethiopia to strengthen relations with the African country, the non-oil trade between the two nations has expanded to US$1.4 billion in 2022. According to Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the UAE’s...
  • Iraq streamlines imports, focuses on strengthening domestic industries

    In a move to fortify the local market, Iraq's Ministerial Council of Economy has taken decisive steps, including the removal of four items from import lists and a 4% tariff reduction on live animals for slaughter. The council also emphasized strengthening the domestic pharmaceutical industry and boosting Iraq's tourism sector.
  • Global trade in goods, services worth US$31trn in 2022: WTO

    Dubai, UAE--Trade in goods and services amounted to US$ 31 trillion in 2022, a 13% rise year-on-year. According to the World Trade Statistical Review 2023, issued by the World Trade Organization, while trade in goods exceeded pre-pandemic levels already in 2021, trade in services caught up in 2022. China remained...
  • Jordan’s exports to EU climb 23.4% to US$192m in first five months of 2023

    Amman, Jordan--Jordan's exports to the European Union (EU) shot up 23.4 per cent during the first five months of 2023 to $192 million compared to $155 million for the same period last year. According to Jordan News Agency (Petra), foreign trade data issued by the Department of Statistics indicated an...
  • Saudi Arabia’s oil exports fell by nearly 38 percent in May

    The share of oil exports in total exports decreased from 80.8 percent in May 2022 to 74.1 percent in May 2023, according to General Authority on Statistics (GASTAT). Compared to April 2023, total merchandise exports decreased by SAR 7.0 billion or 6.7 percent.
  • GCC, Japan resume Free Trade Agreement negotiations

    Jeddah, Saudi Arabia--Looking to consolidate trade and investment ties, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Japan announced their resumption of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. In this regard the two sides signed a joint statement on the sidelines of the meeting held here today between Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister...
  • Iraq to pay for Iranian gas imports with oil: Iraqi PM

    The Iraqi prime minister said the decision to pay for Iranian gas imports with oil corresponds with the mechanism agreed with the US in order not to violate the sanctions. Gas is crucial for Iraq's electricity generation, but US sanctions on Iranian oil and gas impose restrictions on how Baghdad...
  • Pro-Iran parties urge Iraq to clear energy dues with Tehran

    BAGHDAD, IRAQ - A powerful alliance of pro-Iran factions in Iraq called on Sunday on Baghdad to pressure the United States to unlock pending payments to Tehran for crucial gas imports. Iraq, ravaged by decades of conflict and international sanctions, relies on gas imported from its eastern neighbor for a third...
  • Jordan’s exports to non-Arab Asian countries climb to US$1.16bn in Q1

    Amman, Jordan-- Trade between Jordan and non-Arab Asian countries has shot up in the first quarter of 2023, with the value of the kingdom's exports to the countries surging to about $1.16 billion, compared to about $1.07 billion for the same period last year, according to foreign trade data issued...
  • IMF and Pakistan reach $3 billion stand-by deal

    Pakistan's negotiations with the IMF for the last tranche of a $6.5 billion bailout package agreed in 2019 stalled in November, with the government making last-minute changes to the national budget to meet the deal's requirements. That package expires on Friday, and the new agreement builds on the IMF's efforts...
  • Saudi Arabia’s imports from GCC states drop 15% to $1.49bn in Apr

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia’s imports from Gulf Cooperation Council countries fell 15 percent year-on-year to SAR 5.6 billion ($1.49 billion) in April 2023, compared to SAR 6.57 billion in 2022, the Kingdom's General Authority for Statistics said. Compared with March 2023, the Kingdom's imports from GCC dropped by...
  • Iraq-UK economic ties strengthen on back of uptick in trade

    London, UK--Volume of trade exchanges between the UK and Iraq has exceeded one billion dollars and imports and exports between the two nations have been significantly growing, a senior British official said on Friday. Lord Tariq Ahmad, the British Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa and South...
  • Iran-Turkey trade to hit US$15bn on back of private sector cooperation

    Tehran, Iran-- Bilateral trade between Iran and Turkey is expected to vault to US$15 billion by 2025 on the back of deeper cooperation with the private sector. According to a senior official in Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) trade with Turkey will easily reach $15 billion in early March 2025...
  • EU bicycle exports surged to US$1.1bn in 2022

    BRUSSELS, BELGIUM -  The EU exported US$1.1 billion (€1.1 billion) worth of bicycles in 2022 (both electric and non-electric, a rise of 22 percent compared with 2021), according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union on the World Bicycle Day. The imports were double the exports, with US$2.6...
  • EU’s imports in high-tech products worth $524bn in 2022

    BRUSSELS, BELGIUM -  The EU imported US$524 billion (€482 billion) worth of high-tech products from extra-EU countries in 2022 (+22 percent compared with 2021), according to an estimate published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union . Exports to these countries reached US$485 billion (€446 billion) (+16 percent...
  • France-UAE ties get robust as non-oil trade soars

    Baroux also commends the UAE as the most promising market for French exports in the region, with over 600 French companies operating in the country, employing nearly 30,000 people. France stands as the UAE's fourth-largest economic partner within the EU, ranking third for imports and sixth for non-oil exports from...
  • Egypt’s headline inflation slows to 30.6% in April, first such drop in 9 months

    Cairo, Egypt--Egypt's annual urban consumer inflation in April dipped to 30.6% from 32.7% in March, data from the state statistics agency CAPMAS showed on Wednesday Month-on-month, urban inflation slowed to 1.7% from 2.7% in March and 6.5% in February. Inflation had steadily crept up over the last year after a...
  • Egypt reports 72% drop in current account deficit to US$1.8bn

    Cairo, Egypt--Egypt’s current account deficit fell 77.2 percent to $1.8 billion in the first half of the North African country’s current fiscal year. According to its central bank, the deficit reduction was fueled by Egypt’s current account turning a $1.41 billion surplus in the October to December quarter of 2022...
  • Jordan’s exports to EU nations in January,  February 2023 rose to US$87m

    AMMAN, JORDAN - Value of Jordanian exports to European Union countries increased during January-February period of 2023, by 108.5 percent to reach about US$87 million (JD62 million), compared to about US$42 million (JD30 million) for the same period last year.According to foreign trade data issued by the Department of Statistics...
  • Jordan-US trade soars to US$745mn in first two months of 2023

    Amman, Jordan--The volume of trade exchange between Jordan and the US shot up in January and February 2023 to $745 million compared to $561 million for the same period in 2022. Foreign trade data issued by the Department of Statistics (DoS) showed that the value of Jordanian exports to the...
  • UAE India’s second biggest export destination, third for imports

    Dubai, UAE -- The UAE continues to be the second most important export destination for India, according to annual trade figures released by India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The US and the UAE retained the first and second places respectively in this category during the financial year 2022-23, the...
  • EU bloc records highest ever trade deficit in 2022

    BRUSSELS, BELGIUM  - The EU trade in goods registered a large deficit of US$469 billion (€432 billion) in 2022, reaching its lowest level since the start of the time series in 2002. The deficit was due, in particular, to a steep rise in the value of energy imports, which started...
  • Egypt inflation soars to 31.9%, highest in five and a half years

    Cairo, Egypt - Egypt's official annual headline inflation rate rose in February to 31.9 percent, the highest in five and a half years, while core inflation soared to a record 40.26 percent, according to official data reported Thursday by Reuters. The jump in inflation is likely to further squeeze households...
  • US trade deficit widens in 2022 to record on strong imports

    US trade gap widened to a record in 2022, though expanding less than expected in December, government data said, capping off the year on robust imports and strong spending. The overall trade gap grew US$103 billion from 2021 to $948.1 billion last year, according to Commerce Department data, on a...
  • US condemns WTO verdict on its steel tariffs

    Geneva, Switzerland— Washington condemned the World Trade Organization's verdict Friday on the punitive US tariffs imposed on national security grounds on steel imports from China and other countries. Former US president Donald Trump's administration introduced the tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from China, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey and his successor,...
  • EU stops import of products which causes deforestation

    The European Union reached an agreement to ban the import of products including coffee, cocoa and soy in cases where they are deemed to contribute to deforestation. The draft law, which aims to ensure "deforestation-free supply chains" for the 27-nation EU, was hailed by environmental groups as "groundbreaking". Illegal production...
  • EU spent €11.8 billion on imports of non-plug-in hybrid cars in 2021

    Exports of non-plug-in hybrid cars were valued at €22.9 billion, which was more than half of the total extra-EU exports of hybrid and electric cars (55 percent).
  • EU spent €15.2bn on imports of green energy products last year

    The trading bloc also exported green energy products worth €6.5 billion to countries outside the EU.
  • Qatar’s records trade balance surplus of $6.8 billion in Oct 2022

    Doha, Qatar---Qatar's merchandise trade balance recorded a surplus of QR 25.1 billion ($6.8 billion) in October this year, an increase of 18.5 percent year-on-year. The trade balance, which is the difference between total exports and imports, however, decreased by 6 billion riyals, or 19.2 percent, compared to September 2022. The Planning...
  • Food delivery market hots up even as inflation fear makes GCC residents cautious about expenses

    Increased energy costs and supply chain disruptions caused by the epidemic would be a considerable burden for Gulf countries, which rely heavily on imports, says a report.
  • Qatar records a trade balance surplus of US$29.47bn in Q3

    Doha, Qatar—Qatar has recorded a trade balance surplus in the third quarter of 2022 of $29.47 billion up from $15.87 billion in Q3 of 2021, an increase of 85.6 percent. The Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) issued the press release on "Quarterly Foreign Merchandise Trade Statistics, Q3 2022 State of...
  • Visits, talks boost GCC-Asia trade ties

    Traditionally, GCC trade was focused on the West. However, now it is moving to the East. This eastward shift is not too surprising given the continuing travails of many developed Western economies. With the sluggish recovery from the financial crisis in the EU and the US, Gulf economies have had...
  • Qatar to hike Jordanian food imports during World Cup

    Qatar plans to hike its imports of Jordanian food products during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as demand is expected to increase at unprecedented rates due to influx of over 1.5 million fans and visitors.
  • Saudi Arabia imports more cars in H1 than in whole of last year

    Saudi ports have witnessed a growth in car imports during the first quarter of 2022, amid an increase in cargo throughput tonnage, official statistics showed in April.