logo
National exports rise 11.6% in Q1 2025, value JD 2.306 billion

National exports rise 11.6% in Q1 2025, value JD 2.306 billion

Jordan Times22-05-2025

The Department of Statistics says that total exports during the first quarter of 2025 increased by 11.6 per cent to reach JD2.306 billion (Photo courtesy of Aqaba Container Terminals)
AMMAN — Jordan's total exports increased by 11.6 per cent during the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period last year, driven by an 11.7 per cent increase in national exports and a 10.4 per cent rise in re-exports, according to figures released by the Department of Statistics (DoS).
The DoS monthly report on foreign trade also highlighted a 6.6 per cent rise in imports, which in turn contributed to a 2.2 per cent increase in the trade deficit during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Total exports during this period reached JD 2.306 billion, with national exports amounting to JD 2.093 billion and re-exports totalling JD 213 million, while imports stood at JD 4.679 billion for the same period.
The trade deficit, defined as the gap between the value of total exports and imports, amounted to JD 2.373 billion in the first quarter of 2025, up from JD 2.323 billion during the corresponding period of 2024.
In March 2025 alone, total exports amounted to JD 856 million, including JD 784 million in national exports and JD 72 million in re-exports, while Imports valued at JD 1.614 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of JD 758 million for March 2025.
These figures reflect a notable improvement, with total exports increasing by 16.0 per cent compared to March 2024, and national exports rising by 18.4 per cent.
Imports also grew by 4.2 per cent, while re-exports declined by 5.3 per cent, leading to a 6.5 per cent decrease in the trade deficit.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How to manage FX exposure around the world?
How to manage FX exposure around the world?

Al Bawaba

time9 hours ago

  • Al Bawaba

How to manage FX exposure around the world?

Companies that operate in several countries often have to convert into different currencies, which exposes them to currency risks, which if not addressed properly can become a significant problem. Foreign exchange markets are dynamic and they are sensitive to global developments such as geopolitics, wars, trade wars, and many more which makes it difficult to predict which currency will gain the upper hand. This is why companies need to have specific knowledge of these risks and strategies to mitigate Forex exposure risks effectively. Let's briefly review the main methods to manage FX exposure and analyze the best-known cases when companies effectively manage those risks. FX exposure types Forex is a popular market where trillions of dollars are traded daily, making it important to understand its dynamics. Both investors and traders should know how to protect against FX risks to reduce the chances of losses. There are several types of Forex exposure such as transaction, translation, and economics. Transaction risks happen when companies enter into foreign currency payables or receivables and become exposed to exchange rate risk and losses. Corporations hedge these risks using forward contracts, futures, and swaps which allow them to lock in rates or invoices in their home currency to transfer risk. Translation exposure also known as accounting exposure is when financial statements of foreign subsidiaries are converted into the parent company's reporting currency. This can potentially cause reported asset and liability values to change because of exchange rate fluctuations. While it does not create a cash flow risk, it still presents challenges for companies. The economic exposure also referred to as operating exposure simply reflects the impact of these rate changes on the firm's future cash flows and ultimately competitive position. This type of exposure is more difficult to calculate as it has a long-term effect on market value. To mitigate operating risks, companies should employ hedging strategies, including hedges and options. How to manage FX risks - best practices Managing FX risks is an important aspect of operating multinational businesses. Companies usually have a board-approved FX policy which includes a list of authorized instruments, hedge ratios, and reporting standards. This makes risk management very structured and effective. Corporate hedging often includes senior management oversight and periodic policy reviews, to ensure both strategic objectives and regulatory requirements are met. Corporations typically have dedicated risk management teams that execute hedges, and set counterparty limits. Business units provide transactional forecasts and operational insights. How to identify and measure the exposure To execute hedge and other FX risk management strategies, companies first need to identify and measure the exact exposure type and forecast impact. Real-time data, scenario modeling, and value-at-risk metrics help companies identify and quantify exact exposures across currencies. Effective measurement is concluded using unified dashboards that offer the ability to get all needed information and run what-if scenarios, analyzing currency movement's impact on projected cash flows. Hedging strategies After defining the types of risk and possible amounts and currencies involved it is time to mitigate those risks using various well-tested strategies. There are several methods available to ensure currency risks are minimized on the company's cash flow and financial statements. Natural hedges Natural hedging tries to marry foreign revenue with local costs. Basically, it sources inputs in the same currency as sales which reduces the need for financial instruments. This can be a very effective technique to mitigate some of the FX exposure risks. Forward and futures contracts Forward and futures contracts are powerful instruments to hedge against foreign exchange rate risks. These contracts allow participants to lock in future rates of exchange between involved currencies. This can be super important when dealing with an uncertain future where the forecast is difficult. Using these instruments, companies can ensure that their cash flow is stable even in adverse market movements. Having access to locked rates for predetermined data provides certainty on transaction costs. Swaps Forex swaps exchange principal and interest payments in different currencies. This is super useful to manage short-term and long-term funding and exposure which is crucial for international companies. Options and structured products Options are also contracts that grant the right but not the obligation to transact at predetermined rates. They are similar to futures contracts but without obligations. By locking the rates, options offer effective downside protection with upside participation. In other words, it limits losses if the asset falls but still profits if it rises. Best operational practices Some companies have a centralized treasury which allows them to reduce transaction costs, and improve hedging consistency by netting positions internally. The decentralized model, on the other hand, offers local autonomy and quicker decision-making. Many companies employ a hybrid structure to get the benefits from both models. Managing large capital is not easy and many transnational companies have integrated treasury management systems (TMS) to automate deal capture, confirmation, accounting, and generate real-time analysis. These systems can reduce operational risks and provide efficiency, but companies still need to check and monitor their automated systems to eliminate bugs and other errors. Another practical method is to diversify banking and non-bank counterparties to limit concentration risks. By establishing credit lines and netting agreements, companies ensure counterparty exposure remains within the threshold that was approved by management. Case studies - Success stories to learn from There are many cases where companies that operate in many different countries employed FX exposure risk management effectively and avoided losses. Apple's treasury hedges most of its projected foreign-currency cash flows. It uses a blend of forward contracts and options to stabilize earnings and reduce financial risks of FX exposure. Airbus typically manages long-term hedge portfolios with a maturity of several yours, which helps it cover net USD sales. It also employs natural hedges to smooth profitability from large commercial aircraft contracts. In 2022, Coca-Cola HBC responded to the strong US dollar by calibrating its derivative positions. It shifted hedge notions and maturity profiles to mitigate currency risks and preserve a stable cash flow. Starbucks Corp. Starbucks has 'price-to-be-fixed' contracts and Forex forwards to mitigate currency volatility costs in coffee bean purchases. This enables it to have stable expenses despite commodity price surges. Starbucks is an interesting case, as it directly employs these contracts to lock in future price rates and ensure profitability even if the prices surge for beans.

Qatar's ShipBee secures $235,000 pre-seed led by GrowthX
Qatar's ShipBee secures $235,000 pre-seed led by GrowthX

Wamda

time10 hours ago

  • Wamda

Qatar's ShipBee secures $235,000 pre-seed led by GrowthX

Doha-based logistics startup ShipBee has closed a $235,000 pre-seed round, led by Qatar-based GrowthX and supported by two angel investors and $40,000 in bootstrapped funding from the founders. The deal brings the company's valuation to $1 million. Founded in March 2024 by Tamer Raafat and Amer Azani, ShipBee offers logistics solutions including a digital marketplace, AI-integrated SaaS, mobile apps, and express international shipping. The fresh capital will fuel team expansion, product development, and regional scaling. Press release: ShipBee, an innovative & AI-powered one-stop-shop digital logistics marketplace providing end-to-end logistics solutions, incubated & supported by the mobility incubator of Qatar Development Bank and the Digital Incubation Center, today announced the successful closure of its Pre-Seed funding round, raising a total of QAR 855,000 from institutional and angel investors, valuing the early-stage startup at QR 3,570,000. This significant investment will fuel the company's mission to transform how businesses and consumers manage shipping, delivery, and logistics operations, both locally and internationally. The funding, led by GrowthX alongside contributions from two angel investors, joins ShipBee's founders' additional bootstrapping of over QR150,000. The founding partners, Tamer Raafat and Amer Azani will lead ShipBee, and Dr Allan Villegas, a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of QSTP, joins Shipbee's board, marking a significant milestone in ShipBee's mission to transform logistics for businesses and consumers. The funding will accelerate ShipBee's growth, supporting technology development, marketing, team expansion, and scaling operations. Founded in March 2024, ShipBee offers a one-stop platform for both local and international logistics, including a marketplace, user and driver apps, and SaaS solutions for businesses managing shipping operations. The company has rapidly gained traction, securing partnerships with industry leaders such as Snoonu, Qatar Post, DHL, NEXX (a Chinese AI logistics company), and many local service providers and retail businesses. ShipBee's innovative approach has earned recognition, including winning the 1st QDB Innovation Hackathon for Mobility and being incubated by QDB-QBIC and the Digital Incubation Center through the Idea Camp 8th Edition. According to Tamer Raafat, co-founder and CEO of ShipBee, the funding will significantly support key initiatives such as technology developments, securing government contracts, achieving product-market fit, and implementing new AI solutions to enhance the platform. 'This funding empowers us to scale our vision of simplifying logistics through cutting-edge technology,' said Tamer Raafat, CEO. 'ShipBee's vision is to build a smart logistics ecosystem in Qatar and MENA using the power of AI and new technologies.' 'We are thrilled to support ShipBee's pioneering vision to transform logistics. As Qatar aims to become a global logistics hub and advance its Vision 2030 shift toward a digital economy, ShipBee perfectly aligns with these strategic goals by combining innovation with logistics excellence. GrowthX is proud to be their pre-seed investor and to have supported the successful close of this funding round. I firmly believe ShipBee has the potential to become a leading technology-driven logistics platform, both regionally and globally.' – Hamad Al Hajri, CEO & Founder of GrowthX, CEO & Founder of Snoonu.

Burgan Bank Provides ‘Eidya' Across All Branches and ATMs to Support the ‘Eidity' Campaign in Collaboration with CBK
Burgan Bank Provides ‘Eidya' Across All Branches and ATMs to Support the ‘Eidity' Campaign in Collaboration with CBK

Al Bawaba

time15 hours ago

  • Al Bawaba

Burgan Bank Provides ‘Eidya' Across All Branches and ATMs to Support the ‘Eidity' Campaign in Collaboration with CBK

With the approach of Eid Al-Adha, Burgan Bank is committed to supporting the 'Eidity' campaign in collaboration with the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK), the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA), and KNET. Driven by the Bank's digital transformation strategy and adoption of digital banking solutions, customers will be able to easily send and receive Eidya digitally in a swift and secure manner. This reflects Burgan Bank's steadfast commitment to delivering a consistent banking experience and offering convenient services, especially during holidays. As part of the campaign, customers will have the opportunity to withdraw Eidya in any KD denomination of their choice starting June 1st at 26 Burgan Bank branches, and from June 3rd at 14 ATMs strategically located throughout Kuwait, including shopping malls and the airport. In addition, customers can use the instant payment service WAMD through the Bank's mobile banking application to transfer the Eidya. For more information about the branch locations and ATMs, customers can refer to the Bank's official website and social media platforms. The support for the 'Eidity' campaign also aligns with the Bank's continued efforts to instill the culture of savings and financial literacy, under the umbrella of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaign 'Teach Them Young the Value of Savings' and its continued backing of the 'Let's Be Aware' (Diraya) campaign, launched by CBK and KBA in collaboration with local banks. Since its launch in 2020, the Eidity initiative has been warmly embraced by customers, as it facilitates the continuity of the Kuwaiti tradition of sharing Eidya among family members. This Eid Al-Adha, Burgan Bank will continue to offer its Elite customers a complimentary Eidya delivery service, in collaboration with Peacock Concierge. As a proactive and engaged corporate citizen, Burgan Bank continues to participate in and support all initiatives organized by CBK and KBA, contributing to the elevation and advancement of the Kuwaiti banking sector and the banking experience it offers its customers.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store