Amman, April 4 (Petra) -- Industrial exports from the Zarqa governorate rose by 12 percent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2025, driven by higher shipments to Arab and North American markets, the head of the chamber of industry said.
Fares Hammouda, chairman of the chamber, told the Jordan news agency (Petra) that the value of Zarqa’s industrial exports increased to $380.6 million in the first three months of the year, up from $339.2 million in the same period last year. Exports in March alone reached approximately $135.8 million, compared with $115.9 million in March 2025.
Hammouda said exports to Arab countries totalled $159.2 million in the first quarter, up from $143.1 million a year earlier. Shipments to North America rose to $170.8 million from $152.4 million. Exports to the United States increased by 13 percent to $166 million, while exports to Canada grew by 10 percent to $4.3 million.
Among Arab markets, Iraq remained the top destination for Zarqa’s industrial products with $73.7 million, followed by Saudi Arabia at $39.4 million and the United Arab Emirates at $8.2 million. Hammouda noted notable growth in shipments to several Arab markets, including a 60 percent rise to Syria, a 107 percent increase to Qatar, a 42 percent rise to the Palestinian territories, and a 17 percent increase to Kuwait.
Exports to non-Arab Asian markets rose by 48 percent to $29.6 million, compared with $20 million in the same period of 2025, driven by a 43 percent increase to India and a 157 percent surge to China, he added.
By industrial sector, the leather and textiles sector maintained the top position in the first quarter with export values of $177.01 million. It was followed by the food, agricultural and livestock industries at $89.35 million; engineering, electrical and information technology industries at $29.71 million; construction industries at $26.38 million; and packaging, paper, cardboard and office supplies at $20.93 million.
The remaining exports were distributed across other sectors, including chemicals and cosmetics at $16.41 million, medical products and supplies at $10.51 million, plastics and rubber at $9.74 million, and wood products and furniture at $113,000.
//Petra// AF
