The value of Bahrain-origin exports reached BD181 million ($474 million) during May versus BD189 million for the same month of the previous year, marking a 4 per cent decrease, said the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) in its foreign trade report.

The top ten countries account for 86 per cent of the exported national origin value and 14 per cent for other countries.

The value of imports decreased by 3 per cent as it reached BD489 million during May versus BD506 million for the same month of the previous year, while the top 10 countries account for 66 per cent of the imports value and 34 per cent for other countries.

According to the report, China was ranked as the first country that exports to Bahrain with BD65 million; UAE as the second with BD47 million whereas Saudi Arabia ranked third with BD42 million.

Aluminium oxide emerged as the top product imported to Bahrain with BD18 million, while the non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates as the second with BD17 million. Four-wheel drive cars were the third products with BD14 million during May 2018.

Saudi Arabia was ranked as the first country importing from Bahrain with BD45 million, Egypt positioned second with BD21 million and UAE comes third place with BD20 million.

As for the national export products, agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top products exported in May with BD32 million; aluminium wire were positioned second products exported with value of BD25 million; and unwrought aluminium stood third place for exported products with BD16 million.

In regards to the re-exported field, the value of re-exports decreased by 5 per cent as it reached BD42 million during May 2018 versus BD44 million for the same month of the previous year. The top ten countries account for 91 per cent of the re-exported value and 9 per cent for other countries. Saudi Arabia was ranked as the first country to re-export from Bahrain with BD18 million, UAE ranked as second with BD7 million, and China as the third with BD4 million.

Four-wheel drive cars emerged as the top product re-exported from Bahrain with BD7 million, cigarettes containing tobacco came as second products with BD4 million, together with mountings and metal fittings for vehicles came as the third with BD1.3 million.

The trade balance differs between exports and imports. The value of the deficit of the trade balance reached BD266 million during May 2018 versus BD273 million for the same month of the previous year with decrease of 3 per cent. – TradeArabia News Service