Jordan's foreign trade went up by 34.4 per cent during the first ten months of this year compared to the correspondent period of 2003, according to the Industry and Trade Ministry monthly report.
The report, cited by Petra, attributed the rise to increase in imports by 36.2 per cent and national exports by 43.4 per cent, whereas re-exports were cut by 8.6 per cent.
The report showed that clothes exports rose by 52.5%, whereas cement exports dropped by 13.5%, live animals 18.4%, porcelain industries 50% carpets by 30%. The United State topped importers of Jordanian products with 30.7% of total national exports followed by Iraq 15.9%, India 7.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.6% and Syria 4.2%.
On the other hand, Jordan's imports of crude oil increased by 58.4 per cent. According to the report, trade balance deficit rose by 41.9 per cent but trade balance surplus with the U.S. rose up to JD302.9 million compared to 154.2 million during the same period of the last year as a result of the increase in Qualified Industrial Zones exports to the U.S. market.
Tariff-free exports of the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ) to the U.S. market rose by 60.6% .
