Sheep worth over JD350m exported to Gulf in 2014 — ministry

AMMAN — Jordan exported over 613,000 live sheep, valued at more than JD350 million, to Gulf countries in 2014, an Agriculture Ministry official said Sunday. 

Jordan’s largest market for live sheep and goats is Saudi Arabia, according to Agriculture Ministry Spokesperson Nimer Haddadin, who indicated that the volume of exports went up by nearly 35 per cent compared to 2013, when the Kingdom exported 450,000 heads of livestock. 

All Gulf countries import livestock from Jordan, Haddadin told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

The official noted that there are 4 million sheep and goats, in addition to over 70,000 heads of cattle in Jordan. 

Haddadin said local farmers also export dairy products to Gulf markets, as Jordanian-made products enjoy a “good” reputation there. 

Farmers and breeders have benefited from the rise in exports to the Gulf, he added. 

Jordan’s fruit and vegetable exports also saw an uptrend in 2014, recording a 12 per cent increase compared to 2013.

The country exported 888,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables in 2014, compared to 790,000 tonnes in 2013, according to ministry figures. 

The value of Jordan’s agricultural exports in 2014 was estimated at JD550 million.