The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) released its preliminary foreign trade statistics report for January 2025. The report provides insights into Bahrain’s imports, exports of national origin, and re-exports. It also highlights the trade balance for the month.
Imports Decline by 7%
Bahrain’s non-oil imports totaled BHD 496 million in January 2025. This marks a 7% decrease compared to BHD 535 million in January 2024. The top ten importing countries accounted for 72% of the total import value.
Australia led with BHD 92 million in imports, representing 19% of the total. China followed with BHD 74 million (15%), while the UAE ranked third with BHD 37 million (7%). Other aluminum oxide was the most imported commodity, valued at BHD 86 million (17%). Non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates ranked second at BHD 28 million (6%), while private cars accounted for BHD 21 million (4%).
National Origin Exports Increase Slightly
Bahrain’s non-oil exports of domestic origin reached BHD 351 million in January 2025. This reflects a slight 0.3% increase from BHD 350 million in January 2024. The top ten countries accounted for 74% of total domestic exports.
Saudi Arabia ranked first with BHD 79 million (23%). The UAE followed with BHD 42 million (12%), while Qatar came third with BHD 40 million (11%). Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates were the top exported commodities, valued at BHD 92 million (26%). Raw aluminum alloys ranked second with BHD 56 million (16%), while processed or cooked cheeses followed with BHD 22 million (6%).
Re-Exports Show a 6% Increase
Non-oil re-exports rose by 6%, reaching BHD 71 million compared to BHD 67 million in January 2024. The top ten destinations accounted for 84% of total re-export volume.
The UAE led with BHD 26 million (37%). Saudi Arabia followed with BHD 16 million (23%), while Qatar ranked third with BHD 4 million (6%). Gold bullion topped the list of re-exported goods, valued at BHD 5.9 million (8.3%). Smartphones came next at BHD 5.6 million (7.9%), while four-wheel-drive vehicles ranked third at BHD 5.5 million (7.7%).
Trade Deficit Narrows
Bahrain’s non-oil trade balance, representing the difference between exports and imports, showed improvement. The deficit stood at BHD 74 million in January 2025, compared to BHD 118 million in January 2024. This reflects a positive trend in Bahrain’s trade performance.
Bahrain’s non-oil exports continue to play a crucial role in the country’s trade sector. The steady increase in exports and re-exports highlights Bahrain’s resilience in global markets. The government’s economic strategies aim to further strengthen Bahrain’s trade position.
