MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman’s trade surplus widened to approximately RO 5.5 billion in the first seven months of 2026, from about RO 3.6 billion a year earlier, as export growth outpaced an increase in imports.
Merchandise exports rose 17.8 per cent to approximately RO 15.9 billion, compared with RO 13.5 billion in the corresponding period of 2025, preliminary data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) showed.
Merchandise imports increased 5.2 per cent to approximately RO 10.4 billion, from about RO 9.9 billion a year earlier.
Oil and gas exports rose 21.6 per cent to approximately RO 10.4 billion, compared with about RO 8.6 billion in the first seven months of 2025, accounting for the largest share of export earnings.
Non-oil exports reached approximately RO 4.3 billion, up from about RO 3.9 billion in the corresponding period last year.
Re-exports increased 13.6 per cent to approximately RO 1.1 billion, from about RO 1 billion a year earlier.
The United Arab Emirates was the largest destination for Oman’s non-oil exports, receiving goods worth approximately RO 1.4 billion. Saudi Arabia followed with RO 418 million and India with RO 402 million.
Non-oil exports to the United States totalled RO 286 million, while shipments to South Korea reached RO 179 million.
The UAE was also Oman’s largest source of merchandise imports, supplying goods worth approximately RO 2.9 billion, an increase of 23.4 per cent from the corresponding period of 2025.
China ranked second, with imports valued at approximately RO 1.4 billion, followed by Türkiye at RO 745 million, India at RO 744 million and Saudi Arabia at RO 649 million. — ONA
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