Zarqa, Mafraq governorates record 10% increase in exports

AMMAN — The Zarqa Chamber of Industry’s (ZCI) exports for 2018 totalled $1.021 billion, marking a 10 per cent increase when compared with 2017.

ZCI President Fares Hammoudeh said that the chamber’s export volume to the US witnessed an 11 per cent growth rate, valued at $580.3 million.

Exports to Iraq rose by 33 per cent, with an estimated value of $140.1 million, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Hammoudeh added that the chamber’s exports to Arab countries also rose by 7 per cent, to $300.7 million, and recorded a 17 per cent increase to EU countries valued at $33.5 million. 

In terms of sector distribution, the leather and embroideries sector ranked first, with the value of its exports in 2018 reaching $631.8 million, marking an 11 per cent increase compared with 2017 when the sector’s exports totalled $569.2 million. 

The food, agricultural and livestock sector ranked second, with the value of its exports in 2018 reaching $123.2 million, marking a 0.1 per cent increase.

Hammoudeh, earlier this year during a meeting with the Syria Recovery Trust Fund, noted that the ZCI represents 52 per cent of total industries in Jordan when it comes to total capital size.

He added at the time that for three years, the chamber had implemented a diversification plan that enabled it to increase its exports by 5 per cent in 2017.

“Our stakeholders in Zarqa and Mafraq enjoy a unique comparative advantage that comes as a result of some facts, such as the closeness to the border with Syria, in addition to the availability of skilled Jordanian and Syrian labour,” Hammoudeh said.