* National Exports Climb 4.6 Percent * Sectoral Concentration Led by Apparel, Fertilizers, and Raw Potash * Outbound Shipments Surge 33.8 Percent to Syria, 74.8 Percent to China, and 20.3 Percent to the EU * Trade Deficit Contracts by 6.0 Percent * Export-to-Import Coverage Ratio Rises to 55 Percent * Total Imports Edge Up 2.4 Percent AMMAN, Sept. 29 (Petra) – Jordan’s external merchandise trade balance demonstrated marked resilience during the first seven months of 2026, characterized by a 10.3 percent year-on-year expansion in aggregate exports and a contraction in the aggregate trade deficit, according to provisional foreign trade statistics released Tuesday by the Department of Statistics (DOS).

Aggregate export receipts – comprising domestic merchandise exports and re-export transactions – scaled to 6.395 billion dinars through July. Domestic exports advanced by 4.6 percent to reach 5.509 billion dinars, propelled primarily by buoyancy in the apparel, chemical fertilizer, and raw potash extractive segments. Concurrently, re-export volumes registered an accelerated upward vector, surging 67.2 percent to 886 million dinars.

Total merchandise import expenditures recorded a subdued nominal increase of 2.4 percent, aggregating 11.585 billion dinars over the seven-month duration. The divergence between robust export velocity and moderate import absorption successfully compressed the Kingdom's trade deficit by 331 million dinars, contracting from 5.521 billion dinars down to 5.190 billion dinars, representing a 6.0 percent deficit reduction.

Reflecting structural improvements in external competitiveness, the aggregate export-to-import coverage ratio strengthened by 4 percentage points, climbing to 55 percent compared to 51 percent during the corresponding period of 2025.

Sectoral Dynamics and Commodity Flows The domestic export ledger was anchored by key industrial verticals. Outbound shipments of garments and textile accessories registered a 4.1 percent uptick, nitrogenous and chemical fertilizer exports expanded by 12.0 percent, and raw potash shipments advanced by 11.7 percent. Conversely, downward pressures affected select extractive and high-value categories, with raw phosphate exports contracting by 12.6 percent and precious jewelry receipts declining by 14.2 percent.

On the import schedule, upward momentum was dominated by energy and staple commodities. Crude oil and derivative imports escalated by 45.8 percent, while grain procurements rose by 9.7 percent. These expansions were partially offset by contractions across capital goods and durable categories, notably vehicles and motorcycles (down 31.3 percent), mechanical appliances and tools (down 24.1 percent), electrical machinery and equipment (down 8.0 percent), and precious jewelry (down 13.9 percent).

Geographical Distribution and Trade Partners Geographically, the expansion in domestic export markets was driven by heightened absorption across key regional and bilateral corridors. Notable double-digit gains were recorded in outbound flows to Syria (surging 33.8 percent), China (advancing 74.8 percent), and European Union member states –anchored by the Netherlands – which grew by 20.3 percent, alongside solid demand from Iraq and non-Arab Asian markets. On the import sourcing side, inbound flows were led by the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) bloc, spearheaded by Saudi Arabia.

July Monthly Performance For the isolated month of July, aggregate exports totaled 926 million dinars, disaggregated into 813 million dinars of domestic exports and 113 million dinars of re-exports. Merchandise import outlays for the month registered at 1.746 billion dinars, yielding a monthly trade deficit of 820 million dinars.

//Petra// AA