Oman’s Non-Oil Exports Rise 7.5% to RO 6.7 Billion in 2025 Amid Strong Re-Export Growth
Oman achieved a notable boost in its foreign trade performance in 2025, driven by a surge in non-oil exports and re-export activities, even as oil export revenues declined due to falling global crude prices.
According to the latest monthly statistical bulletin by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Oman’s non-oil exports increased by 7.5%, reaching approximately RO 6.7 billion in 2025, up from RO 6.2 billion in 2024. Re-export activities recorded even stronger growth, rising 20.3% from RO 1.708 billion in 2024 to RO 2.056 billion last year.
Key non-oil export products included chemical and related industries, metals and metal products, plastics, machinery, and electrical equipment, highlighting Oman’s diversified trade portfolio.
In contrast, oil exports fell sharply by 15.2% to RO 14.5 billion in 2025 from RO 17.1 billion in 2024. The decline was largely due to a drop in the average price of Omani crude oil, which fell to USD 71 per barrel in 2025 from USD 80.8 per barrel the previous year. Total oil export volumes slightly decreased to 307.9 million barrels, compared to 308.4 million barrels in 2024, while average daily production rose to over one million barrels per day from 992,600 barrels in 2024.
Overall, Oman’s merchandise exports reached RO 23.2 billion in 2025, reflecting a 7.1% decrease from RO 25 billion in 2024, mainly due to the decline in oil export revenues. Merchandise imports, however, grew by 2.7%, rising from RO 16.7 billion to over RO 17.1 billion. Total trade exchange for the Sultanate stood at RO 40.4 billion, slightly down from RO 41.7 billion in 2024.
In non-oil export destinations, the United Arab Emirates remained Oman’s top partner, with exports exceeding RO 1.311 billion, a 25.3% increase from RO 1.046 billion in 2024. Exports to Saudi Arabia also grew strongly, from RO 849 million to RO 1.067 billion, while shipments to India rose 6% to approximately RO 700 million. On the other hand, non-oil exports to South Korea and the United States declined by 26.1% and 13.3% respectively.
The UAE also led Oman’s re-export activities, accounting for 35.2% of the total re-export trade valued at RO 2.056 billion. Re-exports to the UAE reached RO 724 million, up 27.2% from RO 569 million in 2024. Iran was the second-largest re-export destination with RO 365 million, followed by the United Kingdom (RO 207 million), Saudi Arabia (RO 191 million), and India (RO 84 million).
On the import front, merchandise imports from the UAE grew by 5.4% to over RO 4.1 billion. Imports from China rose 5.7% to RO 1.935 billion, while imports from India fell 3.8% to RO 1.448 billion. Meanwhile, imports from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia declined to RO 1.314 billion and RO 1.218 billion respectively.
Oman’s trade data for 2025 highlights a resilient non-oil sector and growing re-export activity, which are helping to balance the impact of fluctuating oil revenues.
