China emerges top exporter to Bahrain

Manama : The value of imports to the Kingdom increased by 11 per cent as it reached BD1.42 billion during the second quarter 2018 versus BD1.275bn for the same quarter of the previous year, while the top ten countries accounted for 66pc of the imports. The foreign trade figures were released yesterday by the Information and eGovernment Authority, which issued its report encompassing balance of trade, imports, exports and re-exports. 

According to the report, China was the leading exporter of goods to Bahrain (BD172 million), followed by the United Arab Emirates (BD137m) and Saudi Arabia (BD112m). Aluminum oxide was the top product imported by Bahrain (BD67m), followed by non-agglomerated iron ore and concentrates (BD62m) and four-wheel drive cars (BD50m) during the second quarter of 2018. 

Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s exports increased by 10pc as it reached BD561m during the same period. The top ten countries accounted 82pc of the Kingdom’s exports. Saudi Arabia received BD144m worth goods from the Kingdom followed by Oman (BD68m) and the UAE (BD66m).  

At BD89m, agglomerated iron ores and concentrates dominated the Kingdom’s exports followed by aluminum wires (BD71m) and unwrought aluminium (BD49m). When it comes to re-exporting, the value decreased by 8pc at BD114m during the same period. The top 10 countries accounted 87pc of total re-exports. The trade deficit reached BD745m during the same period against BD641 m during the same quarter of last year showing an increase of 16pc.