Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman’s trade balance recorded a surplus of RO 1.849 billion by the end of April 2025, compared to a surplus of RO 3.1 billion during the same period in 2024, marking a 40.4 percent decline.

According to Oman News Agency, preliminary statistics from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) showed a 9.3 percent decrease in the total value of merchandise exports by the end of April 2025, reaching RO 7.516 billion, down from RO 8.289 billion in the same period last year.

This decline was primarily driven by a 15 percent drop in Oman’s oil and gas exports, which amounted to RO 4.872 billion by April 2025, compared to RO 5.730 billion in the corresponding period of 2024. Crude oil exports fell by 16.2 percent to RO 2.911 billion, while liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports decreased by 15.3 percent to RO 752 million. Refined petroleum exports also declined by 11.8 percent to RO 1.209 billion.

In contrast, non-oil merchandise exports rose by 9 percent, reaching RO 2.183 billion by April 2025, up from RO 2.002 billion in the same period last year. Live animals and animal products led non-oil exports in value, growing by 9.7 percent to RO 133 million. Chemical and related industry products ranked second, rising by 6.3 percent to RO 268 million. Exports of base metals and related products increased by 5.5 percent to RO 471 million, while metal product exports grew by 2.7 percent to RO 589 million. Plastic and rubber product exports saw a marginal 0.6 percent rise to RO 312 million, while other products surged by 37.1 percent to RO 410 million.

Re-exports declined by 17.1 percent to RO 462 million, with notable drops in metal products (-55.5%), transport equipment (-40.9%), and precious metals/gemstones (-19.8%). However, re-exports of food and beverage products rose by 24.2 percent to RO 60 million. Meanwhile, total merchandise imports increased by 9.2 percent to RO 5.667 billion. Metal products topped imports at RO 1.521 billion (+1.9%), followed by electrical machinery (RO 975 million, +16.5%) and transport equipment (RO 562 million, +21.3%).

The UAE led Oman’s non-oil export destinations with RO 390 million (+24.9%) and re-exports (RO 171 million). Saudi Arabia ranked second in non-oil exports (RO 362 million), followed by India (RO 227 million). For imports, the UAE remained the top supplier (RO 1.283 billion), followed by Kuwait (RO 623 million) and China (RO 568 million).