The Vice President of the Jordan Chamber of Industry and representative of the Food Industry Sector, Mohammad Waleed Al-Jitan, revealed that food products manufactured in the Kingdom cover more than 62% of the local market’s needs, making the sector one of the fundamental pillars of the food security system.
Speaking to the Jordan Gazette Agency (Petra), Al-Jitan stated that 70% of sales from companies operating in the food industry sector are directed toward the local market to meet consumer needs and continuously provide diverse, safe food products. He added that the sector’s production capabilities also contribute to reducing reliance on imports for several food items and enhancing local market resilience against crises related to food availability and pricing.
He continued that throughout various crises and exceptional circumstances, the sector has proven its ability to maintain continuous production and supply essential food commodities without interruption, taking advantage of the flexibility of local production chains, its ability to respond to domestic demand, and its role in strengthening the strategic reserve of food goods.
“The sector plays a pivotal role in strengthening national food security by providing a local production base capable of meeting a large portion of citizens’ needs. Annual existing production reaches approximately 4.5 billion JOD, representing 28% of total existing manufacturing production,” he said.
He noted that the food industry is among the most strategic sectors due to its pivotal role in transforming agricultural and animal products into value-added food items, enhancing their shelf life and storage capacity, and reducing food loss, thereby contributing to the sustainability of food supplies, raising the efficiency of food value chains, and strengthening the national food security system.
Furthermore, the sector serves as a primary pillar of the national economy through its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), job creation, value addition, and investment stimulation, alongside its role in boosting national exports and reaching overseas markets. He pointed out that it maximizes the benefit of local agricultural production and reinforces interlinkages between the agricultural and industrial sectors, raising the competitiveness of the national economy and supporting food system sustainability.
According to Al-Jitan, the food industry sector is one of the largest industrial sectors in the Kingdom in terms of the number of establishments, production volume, and workforce. It comprises 2,600 industrial facilities and employs over 66,000 male and female workers, while registered capital in the sector stands at approximately 674 million JOD. Its importance extends to a broad economic impact across linked sectors: every dinar spent in food industries generates 2.6 JOD in direct and indirect economic activity—the highest multiplier effect among many economic sectors. This impact reflects strong forward and backward linkages with agriculture, transportation, trade, logistics, packaging, and other supporting activities.
He added that the Kingdom has achieved high levels of self-sufficiency in several key food products thanks to the development of production capabilities, most notably dairy, cheese, red meat, poultry, table eggs, legumes, canned goods, and sweets. Meanwhile, other food products have achieved near self-sufficiency levels, most notably tahini, halva, and canned foods, reflecting the diversity of the food industry’s production base and its ability to fulfill a major portion of local demand.
He highlighted that food industry exports have experienced remarkable growth over the past few years, doubling in value from approximately 458 million JOD in 2021 to nearly 926 million JOD last year, marking growth that reflects the rising competitiveness of Jordanian food products and their expanding footprint in international markets.
He noted that the sector’s exports reach markets in 114 countries worldwide, led by Saudi Arabia at 23% of total exports, followed by Iraq at 19%, the United Arab Emirates at 11%, the United States at 6%, and Qatar at 4%.
He pointed out that this geographical distribution demonstrates the sector’s primary reliance on Arab markets, led by the Arab Gulf states and Iraq, which collectively account for more than two-thirds of exports, alongside a growing presence in markets outside the region, such as the United States.
According to Al-Jitan, the food industry sector is classified as a priority sector within the Economic Modernization Vision. The vision aims to boost the sector’s contribution to GDP to 2.9% and achieve a qualitative leap in its performance by 2033 compared to 2021 levels, increase the workforce to around 72,000 workers, raise exports to 4.3 billion JOD, and boost productivity, aligning with national directives to enhance reliance on local production, increase supply chain flexibility, and achieve higher levels of food security.
He explained that integration between the industrial and agricultural sectors holds special significance in supporting the national food security system, as it enhances self-sufficiency, reduces dependence on external markets, and achieves greater stability in food supply and prices. Food manufacturing also raises the added value of agricultural products, reduces waste, and connects agricultural production to the local market and industrial supply chains.
He affirmed that boosting local production helps mitigate the spillover of global fluctuations into the domestic market, especially given current regional conditions and global market challenges related to high shipping and energy costs and supply chain disruptions, thereby strengthening the national economy’s resilience against shocks and ensuring the sustainable availability of food.
Al-Jitan underscored the importance of diversifying export markets, reducing reliance on a limited number of regional markets, supporting the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises to access export markets, and continuing to raise local value addition by expanding deep manufacturing of food products.
(Petra)
