Bahrain Posts $468m Non-oil Trade Deficit in July

Bahrain's non-oil foreign trade posted a deficit of BD177 million ($468.5 million) during July 2016, according to the kingdom's Information & eGovernment Authority.

The total value of imports reached BD326 million ($864.7 million) during July 2016, said a statement from the authority. The value of exports was BD121 million ($320 million) and re-exports amounted to BD27 million ($71.6 million).

The top 10 countries accounted for 65 per cent of the imports and 35 per cent was from other countries, it said.

China ranked top exporter to Bahrain with BD41 million ($108.7 million), the UAE ranked second with BD29 million ($76.9 million), while the US ranked third with BD23 million ($61.01 million), it added.

Aluminum oxide emerged as the top product imported to Bahrain with a value of BD20 million ($53.05 million), while the four-wheel drive cars came in second with BD16 million ($42.4 million). Sedan vehicles were the third most imported product with BD10 million ($26.5 million) during July 2016.

The value of the national origin exported products reached BD121 million ($320 million) during the month.

The top 10 countries accounted for 84 per cent of the exports and 16 per cent went to other countries.

Saudi Arabia ranked first among the countries importing from Bahrain with BD30 million ($79.5 million) worth of goods. US ranked second with BD25 million ($66.3 million) and UAE came third with BD18 million ($47.7 million).

Rectangular alloyed aluminium plates emerged as the top product exported from Bahrain with a value of BD17 million ($45.1 million), aluminium wires was the second item with BD17 million ($45.1 million), while agglomerated iron ores and concentrates took the third spot with BD14 million ($37.1 million) during July 2016.

The value of re-exports reached BD27 million ($71.6 million) during July 2016. Top 10 countries accounted for 92 per cent of the re-export value and 8 per cent went to the other countries.

Saudi Arabia ranked as the first country to re-export from Bahrain with BD13 million ($34.4 million), UAE ranked second with BD4 million ($10.6 million), and Egypt ranked third with BD2 million ($5.3 million).

Four-wheel drive cars emerged as the top product re-exported from Bahrain with BD2 million ($5.3 million).