Muscat – Oman’s non-oil exports rose 10.7% to RO4.309bn in the first seven months of 2026, while re-exports climbed 13.6% to RO1.140bn, with strong growth in shipments to the UAE and US helping offset declines in exports to Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

The increase in exports came despite regional disruption and uncertainty linked to the US-Iran conflict, with trade flows showing significant shifts across both destinations and product categories.

The UAE remained Oman’s largest market for non-oil exports, with shipments more than doubling to RO1.390bn from RO690mn a year earlier, a 101.4% increase.

Saudi Arabia, by contrast, recorded a sharp decline, with exports falling 37% to RO418mn from RO664mn a year ago.

India remained a major destination, with Omani exports reaching RO402mn, broadly unchanged from the corresponding period of 2025.

Exports to the US increased 27.7% to RO286mn from RO224mn in 2025. The increase points to continued demand for Omani products beyond the Gulf and wider regional markets.

However, exports to South Korea dropped 45.1% to RO179mn.

Exports to other markets rose 2.6% to RO1.633bn from RO1.592bn a year earlier.

Metals, chemicals drive exports

Base metals and their articles were the largest category of Oman’s non-oil exports, with shipments rising 26.7% to RO994mn in the first seven months.

Chemical products followed, with exports increasing 26.3% to RO627mn, while plastics and rubber products rose 6.4% to RO600mn.

The gains in these categories helped offset a 26.7% decline in mineral product exports, which fell to RO498mn from RO679mn a year earlier.

A particularly sharp increase was recorded in exports of natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones and precious metals. Shipments in the category surged 22-fold to RO465mn from just RO21mn in the first seven months of 2025.

The data point to a broader shift within Oman’s non-oil export mix, although mineral products and metals remain significant components of external trade.

Re-exports accelerate

Re-export activity grew faster than non-oil exports during the first seven months of 2026, reinforcing Oman’s role as a regional distribution and logistics hub.

Oman’s re-exports increased 13.6% to RO1.140bn from RO1bn in the first seven months of 2025, according to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The rise was driven particularly by stronger re-export flows to Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Iran was the largest destination for Oman’s re-exports, with shipments surging 64.4% to RO294mn from RO179mn a year earlier. Re-exports to Saudi Arabia increased even more sharply, rising 178.5% to RO223mn from RO80mn.

The increases in Iran and Saudi Arabia offset a 36% decline in re-exports to the UAE, which fell to RO252mn from RO394mn.

Transport equipment accounted for the largest share of re-exports, rising 48.5% to RO407mn. Re-exports of foodstuffs, beverages and related products increased 30% to RO149mn.

Electrical machinery and equipment was one of the main declining categories, with re-exports falling 21.3% to RO218mn.