Jordan’s trade deficit narrowed by 5.5% in the first half of 2026, according to the monthly foreign trade report issued by the Department of Statistics. The deficit fell from 4.073 billion dinars to 3.847 billion dinars, a drop of 226 million dinars compared with the same period in 2025.
National exports rose 6.2% year-on-year to reach 4.667 billion dinars in the first half of the year, the report found. Re-exports climbed more sharply, up 44.6% to 1.747 billion dinars, pushing total exports to 6.414 billion dinars, a 14.5% increase over the same period last year.
Imports also grew, rising 6.1% to 10.261 billion dinars during the first half of 2026. Total exports covered 63.0% of imports over that period, up from 58% a year earlier, an improvement of five percentage points.
The rise in national exports was driven largely by clothing and related manufactured goods, up 3.0%, nitrogen and chemical fertilizers, up 14.1%, and raw potash, up 30.7%. Exports of jewelry and precious ornaments fell 9.8%, while raw phosphate exports dropped 7.2%.
On the import side, crude oil and its derivatives rose 58.1% and grain imports increased 10.0%. Imports of jewelry and precious ornaments fell 19.8%, machinery and tools dropped 23.6%, vehicles and bicycles declined 5.9%, and electrical machinery and equipment fell 2.4%.
The growth in national exports came mainly from increased trade with Syria, non-Arab Asian countries including China, and European Union member states, particularly the Netherlands.
On the import side, the largest increases came from Greater Arab Free Trade Area countries, notably Saudi Arabia, from North American Free Trade Agreement countries, particularly the United States, and from non-Arab Asian countries, including China.
Total exports in June 2026 alone reached 1.270 billion dinars, made up of 909 million dinars in national exports and 361 million dinars in re-exports. Imports for the month totaled 2.008 billion dinars, producing a monthly trade deficit of 738 million dinars.
Compared with June 2025, total exports rose 32.3%, driven by a 12.5% increase in national exports and a 137.5% jump in re-exports. Imports for the month climbed 43.5% year-on-year, widening the trade deficit by 68.1% compared with June of the previous year.
