Kingdom’s exports grow 8pc in fourth quarter of last year

The Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) issued its foreign trade report of the fourth quarter of 2018, which encompasses the balance of trade, imports, exports (national origin) and re-exports.

The value of imports increased by 9 per cent as it reached BD1.462 billion during the fourth quarter of 2018 versus BD1.344bn for the same quarter of the previous year, while the top ten countries account for 66pc of the imports value and 34pc for other countries.

According to the report; China is ranked as the first country, which exports to Bahrain with BD193 million, the United States of America as second with BD142m whereas the United Arab Emirates ranked third with BD113m.

Non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top product imported to Bahrain with BD110m, while the aluminium oxide as the second with BD106m. Floating or submersible drilling platforms were the third products with BD54m during fourth quarter 2018.

Additionally, the value of the exported national origin increased by 8pc as it reached BD567m during the fourth quarter of 2018 versus BD525m for the same quarter of the previous year. The top ten countries account for 81pc of the exported national origin value and 19pc for other countries.

Saudi Arabia was ranked as the first country importing from Bahrain with BD113m, the United Arab of Emirates (UAE) second with BD71m and Egypt comes in third place with BD69m.