Ammon News - The value of exports by firms and industries registered with the Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) picked up by 18.2 per cent in January to a total of JD399 million, signaling a rebound from the ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to figures published Saturday by the ACI, the value of exports in the same month of 2020 stood at JD338 million.

Indian, U.S., Iraqi and Saudi markets accounted for more than 50 per cent of the ACI’s exports, or JD250 million of the monthly total.

Breaking down the data, the chamber indicated India was the primary market for exports, which jumped by 65 per cent or JD75 million of the January total, against JD45 million in the same month last year.

It was followed by the U.S. (JD72 million; up by 20pct), Iraq (JD58 million; up by 38pct) and Saudi Arabia (JD45 million; up by 8pct), according to the ACI’s data.

Main exports included chemicals and cosmetics (JD99 million), mining industries (JD89), food, agro and animal produce (JD49 million), leather and textile (JD46 million), pharmaceuticals (JD44 million), engineering, electrical and IT solutions (JD32 million), packaging, paper, cardboard and office supplies (JD21 million).

ACI General Manager Nael Husami told Petra that the move by some Arab countries to remove border restrictions and replace "back-to-back" shipping with direct transport allowed a smooth flow of Jordanian merchandise to neighboring countries, especially the Arab Gulf region.

Husami cited "recent political momentum" between Jordan and Iraq as another driver of exports and the two-way trade activity.

"Last month's export figures signal recovery and resilience and the Jordanian industry's ability to access export market," he said, urging more attention to the national industrial sector.