Ammon News - The Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) has released its export data for the first half of 2023, revealing a total export value of JD3.474 billion. This represents a slight decline from the JD3.576 billion recorded during the same period in 2022.

According to statistics obtained by the Jordan News Agency (Petra), six sectors experienced an increase in exports, while four others witnessed a decline. Industries such as packaging, paper, cardboard, and office supplies faced a 4% decrease, while the wooden and furniture industries experienced a significant decline of 24%.

Among the top export destinations for ACI-registered industries during the first half of 2023 were India, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. These countries collectively accounted for the majority of exports, totaling approximately JD2.003 billion.

Notably, exports to the United States showed a positive growth trend, reaching JD550 million during the first half of the current year, reflecting a 16% increase compared to the same period last year.

Saudi Arabia also demonstrated a noticeable increase in imports from the ACI-registered industries, with exports rising by 13% to reach JD418 million during the first six months of the year, compared to JD368 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Iraq emerged as another significant market, with exports reaching JD403 million in the first half of the current year. This represented a substantial 39% increase compared to the same period in 2022.

Conversely, exports to India experienced a decline, amounting to around JD632 million during the first half of the current year, a decrease of 19% compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, India remained a leading export destination for ACI-registered industries among both Arab and foreign countries.

Export figures to Syria showed a decline of 12% during the first half of the year, totaling JD50 million compared to JD56 million in 2022. In contrast, exports to Palestine surged by 41% to reach JD121 million during the first half of the current year, up from JD86 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Geographically, Arab countries accounted for the largest share of the Amman Chamber of Industry's exports during the first half of the year, amounting to JD1.493 billion. Non-Arab Asian countries followed with JD1.049 billion, while African countries accounted for JD21 million in exports.

The ACI-registered industries’ exports to North America reached approximately JD584 million, while exports to South America amounted to JD56 million. European Union countries received exports worth JD117 million, while non-EU European countries received around JD81 million. Other countries collectively accounted for approximately JD73 million in exports.

Within the Amman Chamber of Industry, exports were diversified across various sectors. Mining industries led the pack with exports worth JD1.018 billion, followed by chemical and cosmetic industries with JD691 million. Engineering, electrical, and information technology industries contributed JD484 million to the export value.

The food, agricultural, and animal wealth industries recorded exports worth about JD385 million, while medical and medical supplies reached JD325 million. Leather and textile industries combined amounted to JD226 million.

Remaining exports from the ACI-registered industries during the first half of the year were distributed among packaging, paper, cardboard, and office supplies industries (JD148 million), plastic and rubber industries (JD114 million), construction industries (JD76 million), and wooden and furniture industries (JD8 million).

The Amman Chamber of Industry, established in 1962, currently boasts a membership of 8,600 industrial establishments, employing approximately 159,000 workers and holding a capital investment of around JD5 billion.