Oman Trade Surplus Hits RO 6 Billion: What This Means for Investors and Business Growth
Oman’s trade balance recorded a surplus of RO 6.097 billion by the end of December 2025, a decrease from the RO 8.341 billion surplus reported during the same period in 2024, according to preliminary data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
This reduction in surplus is attributed to a decline in merchandise exports coupled with a slight increase in imports. Total merchandise exports fell by 7.1 percent to RO 23.264 billion, compared to RO 25.054 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, merchandise imports rose by 2.7 percent, reaching RO 17.167 billion up from RO 16.713 billion in the previous year.
The decline in export revenue was primarily driven by a 15.2 percent drop in oil and gas exports, which totaled RO 14.511 billion, down from RO 17.114 billion at the end of 2024. This highlights Oman’s continued vulnerability to global energy price and demand fluctuations.
Despite the downturn in energy exports, the non-oil export sector showed positive growth. Non-oil merchandise exports increased by 7.5 percent to RO 6.698 billion, compared to RO 6.232 billion in 2024, reflecting Oman’s ongoing economic diversification efforts.
Re-exports also experienced significant growth, rising 20.3 percent to RO 2.056 billion from RO 1.708 billion, indicating heightened activity in Oman’s logistics and trading sectors.
The United Arab Emirates remained Oman’s top market for non-oil exports, with shipments valued at RO 1.311 billion, marking a 25.3 percent year-on-year increase. The UAE was also the leading destination for re-exports, which reached RO 724 million.
Saudi Arabia was the second-largest destination for non-oil exports at RO 1.067 billion, followed by India with RO 699 million. For re-exports, Iran ranked second with RO 365 million, and the United Kingdom was third with RO 207 million.
On the import front, China was the second-largest source of goods after Oman’s main trade partners, with imports worth RO 1.935 billion, followed by India at RO 1.448 billion.
These figures illustrate the changing dynamics of Oman’s trade, where non-oil exports and re-exports are becoming increasingly significant drivers of the nation’s external trade performance amid ongoing fluctuations in hydrocarbon revenues. — ONA
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Oman’s trade surplus contraction signals heightened vulnerability to global energy market fluctuations, urging businesses to diversify beyond oil and gas. The growth in non-oil exports and re-exports, especially to regional hubs like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, presents strong opportunities for investors focused on leveraging Oman’s expanding logistics and trade networks. Smart entrepreneurs should capitalize on this diversification trend and strengthen ties with key trade partners to mitigate risks tied to hydrocarbon dependency.
