Muscat – Oman recorded a trade surplus of RO3.088bn during the first half of 2025, down from RO4.697bn in the same period of 2024, an year-on-year decrease of 34.3%.

Preliminary statistics from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) showed a 9.5% decline in the total value of merchandise exports, which reached RO11.499bn by the end of June 2025, compared to RO12.701bn in the same period last year.

This decline was primarily driven by a 16.1% fall in Oman’s oil and gas exports, which totalled RO7.424bn by the end of June 2025, down from RO8.846bn during the same period in 2024.

Conversely, non-oil merchandise exports grew by 9.1%, reaching RO3.260bn by the end of June 2025, compared to RO2.989bn in the same period last year. Re-exports from Oman fell by 5.9% to RO815mn, compared to RO867mn in the first half of 2024.

The data also showed a 5.1% increase in the total value of merchandise imports, which reached RO8.411bn by the end of June 2025, up from RO8.04bn in the same period last year.

Among Oman’s non-oil trade partners, the United Arab Emirates topped the list in the first half of 2025, with exports to the UAE reaching RO593mn, up 29.8% compared to the same period in 2024. The UAE also led in re-exports from Oman, valued at RO348mn, and in imports to Oman, with shipments worth RO1.984bn.

Saudi Arabia ranked second for Oman’s non-oil exports at RO538mn, followed by India at RO335mn. In terms of re-exports, Iran came second with RO129mn, followed by Saudi Arabia at RO57mn.

Among countries exporting to Oman, China ranked second with imports valued at RO854mn, followed by Kuwait at RO795mn.