Zarqa, Feb 2 (Petra) - President of the Zarqa Chamber of Industry Fares Hammoudeh announced that industrial exports from Zarqa and Mafraq governorates recorded a notable 25 percent growth in January, reflecting positive expectations for continued improvement in Jordan’s industrial export performance this year.

A chamber statement on Monday cited Hammoudeh as saying that the chamber’s exports reached $132.6 million in January, compared with about $106.3 million in the same period in 2025, indicating a significant expansion in foreign demand for industrial products.

He explained that exports to Arab countries accounted for 36 percent of total exports in January, valued at $47.3 million, achieving a 22 percent increase compared with approximately $38.9 million in the same month last year, underscoring the central role of Arab markets in supporting national industry.

Exports to North America represented 51 percent of total exports, valued at $68.4 million, recording a 34 percent rise, while exports to the U.S. market alone grew by 35 percent to reach $66.5 million, compared with about $38.9 million in January 2025.

Exports to non-Arab Asian countries accounted for 8 percent of total exports, valued at $10.3 million, while exports to European Union countries represented only 1.7 percent, totaling $2.2 million during the same month.

Hammoudeh noted that the leather and apparel industries led the export sectors, achieving $70.28 million in exports, compared with about $54.92 million in January last year, marking a 28 percent growth driven by improved demand, particularly in the U.S. market.

The food, agricultural, and livestock industries ranked second, with exports rising 60 percent to $29.63 million, compared with $18.47 million in the same period in 2025.

Construction industries came third with exports of $9.77 million, up 38 percent, followed by chemical and cosmetics industries in fourth place with $5.81 million, marking a 46 percent increase.

According to Hammoudeh, the packaging, paper, cardboard, and office supplies sector achieved $4.50 million in exports, while the remainder of exports were distributed among the medical and therapeutic industries at $4.39 million, engineering, electrical, and IT industries at $4.21 million, plastic and rubber industries at $3.76 million, and wood and furniture industries at $0.21 million.

//Petra// AF