MUSCAT: Oman’s trade balance recorded a surplus of RO 4.69 billion by the end of October 2025, compared with a surplus of RO 7.307 billion during the same period in 2024, reflecting weaker export performance alongside rising imports.
Preliminary data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information showed that the total value of merchandise exports declined by 8 per cent to RO 19.359 billion by the end of October 2025, compared with RO 21.048 billion in the same period a year earlier.
In contrast, the total value of recorded merchandise imports rose by 6.8 per cent to RO 14.669 billion, up from RO 13.741 billion during the same period in 2024.
The fall in export value was largely driven by a sharp decline in oil and gas exports, which fell by 16.3 per cent to RO 12.135 billion by the end of October 2025, compared with RO 14.497 billion a year earlier.
Meanwhile, non-oil merchandise exports grew by 9.9 per cent to RO 5.612 billion, up from RO 5.106 billion during the same period in 2024. Re-exports also rose by 11.6 per cent to RO 1.612 billion, compared with RO 1.445 billion previously.
The UAE topped destinations for non-oil exports at RO 1.070 billion, up 27.6 per cent year-on-year and also led re-exports at RO 532 million, while re-exports to Oman from other countries totalled RO 3.491 billion.
Saudi Arabia ranked second in non-oil exports at RO 920 million, followed by India at RO 597 million. In re-exports, Iran came second with RO 324 million, followed by the UK at RO 179 million. On the import side, China ranked second at RO 1.556 billion, followed by Kuwait at RO 1.257 billion. — ONA
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