Bahrain’s value of imports increased by 17 per cent as it reached BD515 million ($1.366 billion) during October 2018, compared to BD439 million ($1.164 billion) for the same month of the previous year, said a report.

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

According to the report, China was ranked as the top country that exports to Bahrain with BD66 million ($175.1 million); US came second with BD58 million ($152.9 million); while Australia ranked third with BD46 million ($122.07 million).

Aluminum oxide emerged as the top product imported to Bahrain with BD43 million ($114.1 million), while the non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates as the second with BD40 million ($106.1 million).

Floating or submersible drilling platforms came as third imported products with BD28 million ($74.3 million) during October.

Additionally, the value of the exported national origin increased by 1 per cent as it reached BD171 million ($453.7 million) during October 2018 versus BD170 million ($451.1 million) for the same month of the previous year. The top 10 countries account for 82 per cent of the exported national origin value and 18 per cent for other countries.

Saudi Arabia topped the countries importing from Bahrain with BD33 million ($87.5 million), Egypt came second with BD24 million ($63.69 million); and the US ranked third place with BD22 million ($58.3 million).

As for national exported products, aluminium wire emerged as the top products exported in October 2018 with BD27 million ($71.6 million); agglomerated iron ores and concentrates were positioned second products exported with a value of BD26 million ($69 million); and unwrought aluminium stood third place for exported products with BD19 million ($50.4 million).

In regards to the re-exported field, the value of re-exports increased by 25 per cent as it reached BD59 million ($156.5 million) during October 2018 versus BD47 million ($124.7 million) for the same month of the previous year.

The top 10 countries account for 93 per cent of the re-exported value and 7 per cent for other countries. Saudi Arabia was ranked as the first country to re-export from Bahrain with BD22 million ($58.3 million); China came in second with BD10 million ($26.5 million); and UK ranked third with BD5 million ($13.2 million).

Four-wheel drive cars emerged as the top product re-exported from Bahrain with BD10 million ($26.5 million), aircraft engines came as second products with BD5 million ($13.2 million). Additionally, hot-rolled stainless mountings came as third with BD4 million ($10.61 million).

The trade balance, difference between exports and imports, the value of the deficit of the trade balance reached BD286 million ($758.9 million) during October 2018 versus BD222 million ($589.1 million) for the same month of the previous year with increase of 29 per cent, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service