Manufacturing industry exports increase to RO 5 billion in 2018

MUSCAT: The value of manufacturing exports increased at the end of 2018 by 6.2 per cent compared to 2017 to reach RO 5 billion, while the contribution of manufacturing industry to the Gross Domestic Production (GDP) at current prices was 9.6 per cent; delivering a value added of RO 3 billion, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Based on official data, the information report released by NCSI showed that manufacturing exports contributed 31.4 per cent of the total volume of Oman’s exports in 2018 and 93 per cent of the total volume of imports.

UAE came first in terms of its share of volume of the Omani manufacturing exports by 20.9 per cent (with a value of RO 1.1 billion), followed by Qatar by 11.9 per cent, Saudi Arabia by 9.1 per cent, India by 6.3 per cent and China by 5.6 per cent.

Furthermore, Sohar Port, in terms of value, has facilitated 54 per cent of manufacturing exports increasing from RO 2.5 billion (2017) to RO 3 billion, followed by Al Wajajah border post by 12.5 per cent, Muscat International Airport by 6.5 per cent, Wadi al Jizzi by 5.3 per cent, Salalah Port of by 4.9 per cent and the other border crossing posts by 16.5 per cent.

The value of oil manufacturing exports decreased by 10.9 per cent compared to 2017 to reach RO 648 million; representing 13 per cent of the total volume of manufacturing exports; as the refined petroleum and coke furnaces products considered among the most important manufacturing exports.

Qatar ranked first in terms of the value of manufacturing industry products imported from Oman by RO 106.1 million, followed by Pakistan by RO 102.5 million, South Africa by RO 86 million, Yemen by RO 81 million and Iraq by RO 53.6 million; while manufacturing exports to other countries amounted to RO 218.8 million.

According information to the report,

NCSI’S non-oil manufacturing exports increased by 19.7 per cent compared to 2017 to reach RO 4.4 billion; representing 87 per cent of total manufacturing exports; among which the chemical products, basic metal industries, food products, motor vehicle industry and other transport equipment industries are the most important.

UAE came first in terms of the value of non-oil manufacturing products imported from Oman by RO 1 billion, followed by Qatar by RO 495 million, Saudi Arabia by RO 458 million, India by RO 296 million, China by RO 281 million and other countries by RO 1.8 billion.