Khaberni - National exports to countries in the Greater Arab Free Trade Area continue to record an ascending performance during the first nine months of this year, maintaining their leading position among the Kingdom's trade partners.
Trade data issued by the Department of Statistics showed an increase in national exports to the Arab region by 9.4 percent, reaching 2.887 billion dinar compared to 2.638 billion dinar for the same period last year, constituting 41.3 percent of the total exports of the Kingdom.
Conversely, the Kingdom's imports from countries in the Greater Arab Free Trade Area rose by 6.6 percent during the first nine months of the current year, reaching 3.987 billion dinar, compared to 3.741 billion dinar for the same period last year.
Based on these indicators, the trade deficit with the region amounted to about 1.1 billion dinar during the first nine months of this year, compared to 1.103 billion dinar during the same period last year.
Saudi Arabia led the list of Arab destinations for national exports with a value of 955 million dinar and growth of 12.2 percent. Exports to Syria recorded a remarkable increase of 383.3 percent, reaching 174 million dinar, while exports to Iraq grew by 2.9 percent to record 679 million dinar.
Jordanian exports to countries in the Greater Arab Free Trade Area mainly include fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products such as fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, salts and skin care products, food preparations, furniture, fabrics, clothing, and paints.
Imports from countries in the Greater Arab Free Trade Area include crude oil and its derivatives, jewelry, food products, plates and sheets of plastics, titanium oxide and polyethylene, polystyrene, iron and its products, and others.
The Greater Arab Free Trade Area is a joint economic framework among 18 Arab countries, aiming to enhance economic integration and facilitate trade exchange by reducing customs duties, having come into effect in January 2005.
