Trade rebounds as imports, exports surge in June

First-half figures show strong recovery, with aluminium and gold driving trade

TDT | Manama

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Bahrain's trade rebounded strongly in June, with imports and exports both rising by more than BD60 million from the previous month, signalling a stronger finish to the first half of 2026.

Imports rose to BD372.47 million in June from BD311.66m in May, their highest level since February. National-origin exports climbed to BD258.99m from BD206.84m, while re-exports increased to BD53.79m from BD42.39m, lifting total exports to BD312.78m from BD249.23m.

The June rebound followed a weaker May and marked the third consecutive monthly rise in imports after the sharp decline recorded in March.

January remained the strongest month of the first half, with imports reaching BD527.83m, national-origin exports BD335.83m and re-exports BD76.77m, taking total exports to BD412.60m.

February followed closely, with imports of BD523.07m, national-origin exports of BD326.38m, re-exports of BD70.50m and total exports of BD396.88m.

Trade fell sharply in March, when imports dropped to BD221.06m, the lowest level of the six-month period. Re-exports also hit a first-half low of BD17.45m, while national-origin exports stood at BD250.25m, bringing total exports to BD267.70m.

Activity recovered in April. Imports rose to BD287.69m, national-origin exports reached about BD265m and re-exports BD51.57m, taking total exports to BD316.58m.

In May, imports increased further to BD311.66m, but exports weakened. National-origin exports fell to BD206.84m, re-exports to BD42.39m, leaving total exports at BD249.23m before June's recovery.

Overall figures

Overall, imports exceeded BD500m in January and February before plunging in March and rising steadily through June. National-origin exports topped BD250m in four of the six months, led by January and February. Re-exports followed a similar pattern, peaking at the start of the year, falling sharply in March and recovering during the following months.

Raw materials, industrial goods and high-value items dominated Bahrain's imports. Aluminium oxide topped the list at more than BD132.7m, followed by gold bars (BD124.5m), aircraft engine parts (BD71.3m), gold jewellery (BD67.1m) and non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates (BD54.4m). Medicines, smartphones, unwrought non-alloyed aluminium, turbojet engines and sport utility vehicles also featured among the leading imports.

Aluminium remained Bahrain's largest national-origin export. Unwrought aluminium alloys generated about BD398.4m, followed by agglomerated iron ores and concentrates (BD167.4m) and non-alloyed aluminium wire (BD143.5m). Other key exports included semi-finished iron and steel products, iron and steel bridges and bridge parts, processed cheese, aluminium electrical wire, aluminium alloy coils and strips, and unwrought non-alloyed aluminium.

Gold bars led re-exports at more than BD42.9m, followed by turbojet engines (BD24.9m), sport utility vehicles (BD15.2m) and watches made from precious metals (nearly BD14m). Smartphones, aircraft parts, pick-up trucks, vehicle parts and gold jewellery also ranked among Bahrain's main re-exported goods.