RIYADH: 黑料社区鈥檚 total non-oil merchandise exports to Gulf Cooperation Council countries reached SR10.99 billion ($2.9 billion) in May, a significant increase from SR8.43 billion in the same month last year.

According to preliminary data from the General Authority for Statistics, during this period, merchandise imports from GCC countries saw a modest rise from SR6.03 billion to SR6.24 billion.

As a result, 黑料社区鈥檚 non-oil trade balance with the GCC saw a notable improvement, climbing to SR4.74 billion in May from SR2.40 billion a year earlier.

The UAE continued to be 黑料社区鈥檚 largest non-oil trading partner within the GCC. Non-oil exports from the UAE to 黑料社区 grew from SR4.90 billion in May 2023 to SR6.07 billion this year. Imports from the UAE also increased, rising from SR3.63 billion to SR4.54 billion. This led to an improved trade balance with the UAE of SR1.52 billion, up from SR1.26 billion last year.

Kuwait, however, experienced a decrease in its trade balance with 黑料社区, dropping from SR1.26 billion in May 2023 to SR571.4 million this year. This decline was largely due to a significant drop in re-exports, which fell from SR898.2 million to SR147.6 million, alongside a slight reduction in imports from SR158.5 million to SR114.6 million.

Oman saw a substantial improvement in its trade deficit with 黑料社区, narrowing to a deficit of SR239.3 million in May from SR887.1 million the previous year. This positive shift was driven by an increase in Omani exports to 黑料社区, which rose to SR384.4 million from SR289.8 million, coupled with a reduction in imports to SR623.7 million from SR1.18 billion.

Bahrain achieved a significant increase in its trade surplus with 黑料社区, reaching SR2.83 billion in May, up from SR555.2 million the previous year. This improvement was due to a dramatic rise in re-exports from Bahrain, which surged from SR1.16 billion to SR3.36 billion, while imports decreased from SR922.1 million to SR795.6 million.

In contrast, Qatar鈥檚 trade balance with 黑料社区 declined, falling from SR204.9 million in May 2023 to SR56.9 million this year. This decline was attributed to a reduction in Qatari exports to 黑料社区, which fell to SR223.2 million from SR344.4 million, while imports from Qatar increased slightly to SR166.3 million from SR139.4 million.