Bahrain’s value of imports increased by 34 per cent as it reached BD507 million ($1.34 billion) during April 2018, compared to BD377 million ($998.5 million) for the same month of the previous year, said a report.

The top 10 countries account for 67 per cent of the imports value and 33 per cent for other countries, said the foreign trade report by Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) for the month of April, which encompasses balance of trade, imports, exports (national origin) and re-exports.

According to a report, China ranked top in exports to Bahrain with BD55 million ($145.67 million); UAE came second with BD49 million ($129.78 million); whereas Saudi Arabia ranked third with BD37 million ($98.00 million).

Non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top product imported to Bahrain with BD35 million ($92.70 million), while the aluminium oxide ranked second with BD24 million ($63.56 million). Four-wheel drive vehicles came in third with BD18 million ($47.67 million).

Additionally, the value of the exported national origin increased by 7 per cent as it reached BD176 million ($466.16 million) during April, compared to BD164 million ($434.37 million) for the same month last year.

The top ten countries account for 85 per cent of the exported national origin value and 15 per cent for other countries.

Saudi Arabia topped the countries importing from Bahrain with BD58 million ($155.62 million), Oman came second with BD30 million ($79.45 million) and UAE placed third with BD21 million ($55.62 million).

As for national export products, agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top products exported in April with BD26 million ($68.86 million); aluminium wire were positioned second products exported with a value of BD18 million ($47.67 million); and ferrous products from the direct reduction of iron ore stood third place for exported products with BD15 million ($39.72 million).

In regards to the re-exported field, the value of re-exports decreased by 2 per cent as it reached BD44 million ($116.54 million) during April versus BD45 million ($119.18 million) for the same month of the previous year.

The top ten countries account for 89 per cent of the re-exported value and 11 per cent for other countries.

Saudi Arabia was ranked as the first country to re-export from Bahrain with BD16 million ($42.37 million), UAE ranked second with BD9 million ($23.83 million), and China came third with BD5 million ($13.24 million).

Four-wheel drive vehicles emerged as the top product re-exported from Bahrain with BD6 million ($15.89 million), cigarettes containing tobacco came as second products with BD3 million ($7.94 million), and parts for other gas turbines came as third with BD2 million ($5.29 million).

The trade balance, difference between exports and imports, value of the deficit of the trade balance reached BD286 million ($757.51 million) during April, compared to BD167 million ($442.32 million) for the same month of the previous year with an increase of 71 per cent. – TradeArabia News Service