Ammon News - Exports of factories and businesses registered with the Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) picked up by 10 percent in the first quarter of 2023 to JD1.814 billion against JD1.646 billion in the same period of 2022.

With the exception of the plastic, rubber and furniture industries, which saw 4- 6 percent decline in exports during the January-March period of this year, most industrial sectors saw an increase in exports during the reporting period ranging between 3 and 20 percent, according to statistical data obtained by the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on Wednesday.

India, the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Iraq accounted for more than half of the Chamber's exports during the first 3 months of the current year, accounting for JD993 million,the data revealed.

The Chamber's exports to India dropped by 14 percent during the first quarter of 2023 to JD321 million compared to JD373 million for the same period last year, while exports to the United States rose by 21 percent to JD280 million from JD230 million.

The data also revealed that exports increased during the first quarter of 2023 to Saudi Arabia by 12 percent, hitting about JD203 million against JD181 million for the same period last year.

Moreover, the ACI's exports to Iraq also rose during the reporting period to about JD189 million, compared to JD155 million for the same period last year, a 21 percent increase.

The Chamber's exports to Syria recorded a 12 percent increase during the January- March of the current year at JD29 million, compared to JD25 million last year. Exports to Palestine also increased by 57percent, reaching JD50 million during the reporting period, compared to JD31 million for the same period in 2022.

According to the geographical distribution of exports, the value of exports to Arab markets in the first three months of this year amounted to JD722 million, non-Arab Asian with JD602 million, African countries with about JD12 million, while exports to North American countries reached about JD296 million.

Meanwhile, the value of the chamber's exports to South American markets in the first quarter of 2023 stood at JD23 million, European Union countries at JD66 million, European nations outside the EU at JD33 million, and to other countries with JD59 million.

The mining industries contributed JD587 million to exports, followed by the chemical and cosmetics industries with JD337 million and the engineering, electrical, and information technology industries with JD253 million.

The export value of the catering, food, agricultural, and livestock industries reached JD207 million, followed by the therapeutic industries and medical supplies sector with JD147 million, the leather and textile industries with JD104 million, and the packaging, paper, cardboard, and office supplies industries with JD77 million.

Exports from the plastic and rubber industries totaled JD65 million, and the construction industries reached JD32 million, while exports from the wood and furniture industries hit JD4 million.

The Amman Chamber of Industry was established in 1962 and now has 8,600 industrial members employing 159,000 people. The combined capital of ACI-registered businesses is approximately JD5 billion.