MUSCAT: Oman’s non-oil exports surged by 31.4 per cent to OMR2,364.7 million for the first nine months of 2017, from OMR1,799.6 million for the same January-September period of the previous year. A major recovery in energy prices indirectly helped the country to strengthen its non-oil export revenue as well. Since prices of several petrochemical products are positively correlated to global prices of energy, Oman could gain immensely with a rise in oil prices. A phenomenal growth in exports of mineral products, chemical products, plastics and rubber and electric machinery aided the recovery in non-oil exports, shows the latest monthly statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
Among the non-oil product categories, exports of mineral products shot up year-on-year by 51.5 per cent to OMR640 million, while exports of chemical products was up by 41.9 per cent to OMR610.10 million during January-September period of 2017, over the same period of last year Further, export revenue from rubber and plastics and basic metals jumped year-on-year by 43.5 per cent and 35.8 per cent at OMR149.4 million and OMR472.9 million, respectively. As part of the country’s diversification programme, Oman has been taking several major steps to strengthen its export base of non-oil products. Apart from petrochemicals, the Sultanate’s focused non-oil export products include processed aluminium, fertilisers, fish, minerals, metals and metal products, dates, chemicals, plastic products, detergents, mattresses and pharmaceuticals. The country’s export promotion agency, Ithraa not only conducts market surveys in potential export markets, but also organises trade exhibitions to promote Omani products.
Oman’s budget deficit falls by 1%
Muscat: The Sultanate’s budget deficit fell 1 per cent to OMR1,896.8 million till the end. The budget deficit for the...
