The statistical bulletin published by the Omani National Economy Ministry has indicated that the Sultanate's foreign trade witnessed a 1.7% increase in the total value of commodity exports during the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 2006. According to ONA, the total value of commodity exports amounted to RO. 4155.2 million as at the end of June 2007, against RO. 4085.6 million during the corresponding period in 2006.
This rise was attributed to a 73.6% growth in non-oil exports commodities, which amounted to RO.535.2 million at the end of June 2007, compared to RO. 308.3 million during the corresponding period in 2006. Additionally, re-export trade went up by 36.8% as at the end of June 2007 to RO. 485.9 million, compared to RO. 355.2 million during the corresponding period in 2006.
The Sultanate’s oil and gas exports fell by 8.4% during the first six months of 2007 to RO.3134.2 compared to RO.3422.1 million during the corresponding period in 2006, the bulletin said. The United Arab Emirates topped the countries importing Omani non-oil exports as it imported RO. 229.9 million of commodities as of the end of June 2007 followed by the Republic of India with RO.63.8 million and then Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with RO 34.2 million.
The UAE also topped the countries importing Omani exports "re-export" as it imported, as of the end of June 2007, RO. 263.2 million worth commodities followed by the Islamic Republic of Iran with RO.53.9 million and then Saudi Arabia with RO. 21.4 million.
The commodities imports also posted a 38.1% hike to hit RO .2710.4 as of the end of June 2007 compared to RO 1962.4 million during the corresponding period in 2006, the bulletin said. The UAE also topped the countries exporting to the Sultanate, as the latter imported RO. 671.8 million of commodities from the former during the first six months of 2006 followed by Japan with RO.420.2 and then India with RO.187.4.
