Manufacturing exports in 2018 rose to OMR5bn
The contribution of manufacturing industry to the gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices was 9.6 per cent
MUSCAT: The value of manufacturing industry exports increased by 6.2 per cent to reach OMR5 billion at the end of 2018, compared to 2017, according to a new report.
The contribution of manufacturing industry to the gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices was 9.6 per cent; delivering a value-added of OMR3 billion, data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), shows.
The official data 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.
The UAE came first in terms of its share of volume of the Omani manufacturing exports by 20.9 per cent (with a value of OMR1.1 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 OMR2.5 billion (in 2017) to OMR3 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 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 OMR648 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 OMR106.1 million, followed by Pakistan by OMR102.5 million, South Africa by OMR86 million, Yemen by OMR81 million, and Iraq by OMR53.6 million; while manufacturing exports to other countries amounted to OMR218.8 million.
According to the NCSI’s information report, non-oil manufacturing exports increased by 19.7 per cent compared to 2017 to reach OMR4.4 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.
The UAE came first in terms of the value of non-oil manufacturing products imported from Oman by OMR1 billion, followed by Qatar by OMR495 million, Saudi Arabia by OMR458 million, India by OMR296 million, China by OMR281 million, and other countries by OMR1.8 billion.