Sign in Subscribe
Exports

Oman's Trade Balance Records Sharp Decline in April 2025

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Sultanate of Oman's trade balance took a significant hit in April 2025, with a surplus of RO 1.849 billion, down 40.4% from the RO 3.1 billion reported in the same period the previous year. This decline was largely driven by a 9.3% drop in merchandise exports, which fell to RO 7.516 billion, down from RO 8.289 billion. Oil and gas exports took a particularly sharp hit, plummeting by 15% to RO 4.872 billion, with crude oil exports declining by 16.2% to RO 2.911 billion and LNG exports falling by 15.3% to RO 752 million. Meanwhile, non-oil exports showed a positive trend, increasing by 9% to reach RO 2.183 billion.

Key Takeaways:

  • Oman's trade balance surplus declined by 40.4% to RO 1.849 billion in April 2025, compared to RO 3.1 billion in the same period last year.
  • Merchandise exports fell by 9.3% to RO 7.516 billion, with oil and gas exports declining by 15% to RO 4.872 billion.
  • Non-oil exports increased by 9% to RO 2.183 billion, with live animals and animal products leading the growth at 9.7%.
  • Re-exports from Oman fell sharply by 17.1% to RO 462 million, with mineral product re-exports plummeting by 55.5% to RO 23 million.
  • Oman's merchandise imports increased by 9.2% to RO 5.667 billion, with mineral products remaining the largest import category by value.
  • Machinery, electrical appliances, and related equipment imports rose by 16.5%, while transport equipment imports surged by 21.3%.

Statistics:

  • RO 1.849 billion: Oman's trade balance surplus in April 2025
  • 40.4%: Decline in trade balance surplus compared to the same period in 2024
  • RO 7.516 billion: Total merchandise exports in April 2025
  • 9.3%: Drop in merchandise exports compared to the same period last year
  • RO 4.872 billion: Oil and gas exports in April 2025
  • 15%: Decline in oil and gas exports compared to the same period last year
  • RO 2.183 billion: Non-oil exports in April 2025
  • 9%: Increase in non-oil exports compared to the same period last year
  • RO 462 million: Re-exports from Oman in April 2025
  • 17.1%: Decline in re-exports compared to the same period last year
  • RO 5.667 billion: Oman's merchandise imports in April 2025
  • 9.2%: Increase in merchandise imports compared to the same period last year

Sources:

  • National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCIS)
  • Preliminary figures released by NCIS in April 2025.

Read more