MUSCAT: Oman’s foreign trade performance remained resilient in 2025, with the total value of trade reaching RO 40.4 billion, despite a notable decline in oil export revenues. The latest figures underline the growing importance of non-oil exports and re-export activities in sustaining economic momentum, in line with the Sultanate’s long-term diversification strategy.
According to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information, non-oil exports rose by 7.5 per cent to approximately RO 6.7 billion in 2025, compared with RO 6.2 billion in 2024. Re-export activities recorded even stronger growth, increasing by 20.3 per cent to RO 2.056 billion, up from RO 1.708 billion a year earlier. This growth reflects the continued revitalisation of ports, improvements in logistics infrastructure and government initiatives aimed at strengthening Oman’s role as a regional trade and distribution hub.
Non-oil export growth was driven mainly by products from the chemical and related industries, metals and metal products, plastics, as well as machinery and electrical equipment. These sectors have benefited from increased industrial capacity, higher value-added production and improved access to regional and international markets. The steady expansion of non-oil exports highlights progress in reducing reliance on hydrocarbons and broadening the country’s export base.
In contrast, the value of oil exports declined by 15.2 per cent to RO 14.5 billion in 2025, compared with RO 17.1 billion in 2024. This drop was largely attributed to a fall in the average price of Omani crude oil, which declined to $71 per barrel from $80.8 the previous year. Total oil exports stood at 307.9 million barrels, broadly unchanged from 308.4 million barrels in 2024, while average daily oil production increased from 992,600 barrels per day to more than one million barrels per day, partly offsetting the impact of lower prices.
As a result of weaker oil revenues, the total value of Omani merchandise exports fell by 7.1 per cent to RO 23.2 billion, down from RO 25 billion in 2024. Imports also recorded a decline, while commodity exports increased by 2.7 per cent, rising from RO 16.7 billion to more than RO 17.1 billion, reflecting sustained demand for Omani products in key markets.
The United Arab Emirates remained Oman’s largest trading partner for non-oil exports, with shipments exceeding RO 1.31 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 25.3 per cent. Non-oil exports to Saudi Arabia also rose strongly, from RO 849 million to RO 1.067 billion, while exports to India increased by 6 per cent to around RO 700 million. In contrast, non-oil exports to South Korea and the United States declined by 26.1 per cent and 13.3 per cent, respectively.
In re-export activity, the UAE accounted for 35.2 per cent of Oman’s total re-exports, with goods valued at RO 724 million, followed by Iran, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and India. On the import side, shipments from the UAE and China increased, while imports from India, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia declined.
Overall, the latest trade figures underscore Oman’s gradual transition towards a more balanced and diversified trade structure, with non-oil exports and re-exports playing an increasingly central role in supporting economic resilience amid global price fluctuations. — ONA
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