Ammon News - Head of the Zarqa Chamber of Industry (ZCI), Faris Hammouda, said the ZCI's export report revealed an increase in the value of its industrial exports during 2021 by 14%.

In a press statement on Sunday, he said the industrial exports of the governorates of Zarqa and Mafraq amounted to $1, 080 billion for various industrial sectors.

The value of exports increased by 5% during last December 2021 to reach $104.5 million, compared to $100.9 million in the same month of 2020, he noted.

Recovery of U.S. market's demand contributed to the increase in export values, as the North American markets accounted for 53.8% of the total exports last year, with a value of $581.4 million , up by 13%, compared to 2020, which amounted to $581.4 million, with a value of its exports at 513.6 million, he noted.

The United States was the top importer, in terms of total exports to North American countries, with a value of $554.4 million, an increase of 14%, while exports to Canada amounted to $24.4 million, up by 0.4%, he added.

Hammouda pointed out that the Arab countries' markets accounted for 31.3% of the total exports last year, with a value of $338.8 million, up 17% from their value in 2020.

At the sectoral level, the leather and textile industries sector maintained the first place during 2021 with exports standing at $647.96 million, followed by the catering, foodstuff, agricultural and livestock industries with $151.47 million, the statement added.

The engineering, electrical and information technology industries followed with a value of $78.47 million, then the chemical and cosmetics industries sector came in fourth place, with exports worth $46.69 million last year, the statement noted.

The value of exports of the plastic and rubber industries increased last year by 20% to reach $46.02 million, it noted.

The remaining exports were distributed to the construction industries sector with a value of $40.79 million, then the therapeutic industries and medical supplies with $39.01 million, followed by the packaging and office supplies sector with exports worth $28.12 million. Then, the furniture industries followed with exports worth $1, 69 million, the statement pointed out.