Jordan's exports surge by 15.2% to GAFTA countries, trade deficit narrows as imports decline

AMMAN — Jordanian exports to countries in the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) until November grew by 15.2 per cent to reach approximately JD2.568 billion, compared with JD2.230 billion during the same period last year, the Department of Statistics (DoS) announced on Sunday.

The value of national imports to GAFTA countries until November decreased by 19.8 per cent, amounting to JD4.049 billion, compared with JD5.050 billion in the same period of 2022, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

According to foreign trade data issued by DoS, Jordan's trade deficit with the GAFTA countries decreased to approximately JD1.481 billion by the end of November this year, compared with around JD2.820 billion in the same period last year. 

The total trade volume between Jordan and GAFTA countries reached around JD6.617 billion by the end of November 2023, compared with JD7.280 billion in the corresponding period last year. 

Saudi Arabia accounted for the vast majority of Jordan's total exports to GAFTA countries in the said period, reaching about JD842 million with an increase of 20.5 per cent compared with JD699 million in the same period last year.

Saudi Arabia also topped the list of countries from which Jordan imports, with imports worth JD2.235 billion, compared with JD2.529 billion in the same period last year. This shows an 11.6 per cent drop.