Bahrain’s Non-Oil Imports Rise by 7% Compared to May 2024

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has published its Foreign Trade Report for May 2025, highlighting a mixed picture for the Kingdom’s trade performance.

According to the report, Bahrain’s total foreign trade volume reached BD 880 million in May 2025. While this marked an 11% decrease compared to April 2025, it showed a 6% increase when compared to the same month last year, signaling continued growth over the long term.

Non-Oil Imports Rise 7% Year-on-Year
The value of non-oil imports rose by 7%, reaching BD 498 million in May 2025, compared to BD 466 million in May 2024. However, imports saw a 13% drop from April 2025. The top 10 countries accounted for 71% of the total import value.

China was the leading source of imports, supplying goods worth BD 75 million (15% of total imports). It was followed by the United Arab Emirates (BD 48 million, 10%) and Australia (BD 43 million, 9%).

The top imported items included:

Aircraft engine parts (BD 42 million)

Other aluminum oxide (BD 41 million)

Four-wheel drive vehicles (BD 21 million)

Exports Maintain Steady Performance
National exports for May 2025 totaled BD 322 million, showing a 5% decrease from April, but a 2% increase compared to May 2024. The Kingdom’s top export destination remained Saudi Arabia, receiving BD 67 million worth of goods (21%), followed by the United States (BD 33 million, 10%) and the UAE (BD 27 million, 8%).

The most exported products were:

Unwrought aluminum alloys (BD 94 million)

Agglomerated iron ores & concentrates (BD 42 million)

Aluminum wire (not alloyed) (BD 17 million)

Re-Exports See Annual Growth Despite Monthly Decline
Re-exports amounted to BD 60 million in May 2025, reflecting a 15% decline from April, but showing an 18% increase compared to May 2024. The United Arab Emirates was the largest re-export market with BD 24 million (40%), followed by Saudi Arabia (BD 16 million, 27%) and Singapore (BD 3 million, 5%).

Key re-exported goods included:

Smartphones (BD 6.4 million)

Four-wheel drives (BD 6.3 million)

Private cars (BD 5 million)

Overall Observations
Despite a monthly dip in trade activity, Bahrain’s year-on-year figures remain positive, driven by rising imports and re-exports. Aluminum products and automobiles continue to be among the most traded goods, while China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE reinforce their positions as Bahrain’s key trading partners.

The iGA’s report includes detailed breakdowns of the trade balance, imports, national exports, and re-exports, offering a clear snapshot of Bahrain’s economic activity and global trade connections.