MUSCAT : The increase was driven by a 19.7 percent rise in merchandise exports, which exceeded RO 18.3 billion, compared with approximately RO 15.3 billion during the same period last year. Merchandise imports also increased, rising 4.4 percent to approximately RO11.9 billion, compared with RO 11.4 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.

Oil and gas exports recorded the strongest growth among the main export categories, increasing 23.9 percent to approximately RO 12.1 billion, up from RO 9.8 billion a year earlier.

Non-oil merchandise exports rose 10.5 percent to approximately RO 4.9 billion, compared with RO 4.4 billion during the same period in 2025. Meanwhile, re-exports increased 19.7 percent to RO 1.3 billion, up from approximately RO 1.1 billion.

The United Arab Emirates remained the leading destination for Oman’s non-oil merchandise exports, receiving goods worth approximately RO 1.6 billion by the end of August 2026. This represented a 91.8 percent increase from RO 814 million during the corresponding period last year.

Saudi Arabia ranked second with RO 478 million, followed by India with RO 445 million, the United States with RO 327 million and China with RO 198 million.

In the re-export market, Iran topped the list with RO 342 million, marking a 69.6 percent increase compared with the same period in 2025. The UAE ranked second with RO 293 million, followed by Saudi Arabia with RO 274 million, which recorded a 178.2 percent increase.

The United Kingdom and Somalia followed with re-export values of RO 35 million and RO 29 million, respectively.

On the imports side, the UAE was Oman’s largest trading partner, supplying goods worth approximately RO 3.3 billion by the end of August 2026, an increase of 21 percent compared with RO 2.7 billion during the same period last year.

China ranked second, with imports reaching approximately RO 1.7 billion, up 49 percent from RO 1.2 billion. India followed with RO 912 million, while Turkey and Saudi Arabia recorded imports of RO 769 million and RO 747 million, respectively.

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