Oman’s trade surplus remained above $5 billion during the first four months of 2026 as merchandise exports continued to exceed imports despite weaker oil and gas earnings.
The Oman trade surplus stood at 2.09 billion Omani rials ($5.4 billion) by the end of April, according to preliminary figures released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information. Although slightly lower than the 2.11 billion rials recorded during the same period in 2025, the surplus highlights the country’s resilient external trade performance.
The latest figures also point to growing re-export activity as Oman continues to diversify its economy and strengthen its role in regional trade.
Oman trade surplus supported by strong exports
Official data showed that total merchandise exports reached 7.6 billion Omani rials by the end of April, while imports stood at 5.5 billion rials.
As a result, exports comfortably exceeded imports, allowing the Sultanate to maintain a healthy trade surplus during the first four months of the year.
However, oil and gas exports declined by 7.5 percent to 4.7 billion rials compared with 5.1 billion rials recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
Non-oil exports also eased slightly to 2.1 billion rials from 2.2 billion rials a year earlier.
Re-exports surge despite lower energy earnings
While traditional exports softened, Oman’s re-export sector recorded remarkable growth.
According to the Oman News Agency, re-exports climbed to 770 million rials by the end of April, representing a 66.8 percent increase from 462 million rials recorded during the same period last year.
The strong performance reflects increasing regional demand and Oman’s expanding role as a logistics and distribution hub within the Gulf.
The growth also aligns with the country’s long-term economic diversification strategy aimed at reducing dependence on hydrocarbon revenues.
UAE remains Oman’s leading trade partner
The United Arab Emirates remained the largest destination for Oman’s non-oil exports during the review period.
Exports to the UAE reached 480 million rials, followed by Saudi Arabia with 233 million rials and India with 214 million rials.
The United States and South Korea ranked next, receiving non-oil exports worth 168 million rials and 160 million rials respectively.
In the re-export segment, the UAE also led with goods valued at 331 million rials, ahead of Saudi Arabia at 140 million rials and Iran at 98 million rials.
Imports driven by regional and Asian suppliers
On the import side, the UAE remained Oman’s largest supplier of goods, exporting products worth 1.5 billion rials to the Sultanate.
China ranked second with exports valued at 801 million rials, while Turkiye followed with shipments worth 422 million rials.
Saudi Arabia supplied goods valued at 413 million rials during the period, while imports from India reached 392 million rials.
The import figures reflect Oman’s strong commercial ties with neighboring Gulf countries and major Asian manufacturing economies.
Regional trade remains resilient
The latest trade data comes as Gulf economies continue to report robust trade performance despite changing global market conditions.
Saudi Arabia recently posted a sharp increase in its trade surplus, supported by stronger oil exports and rising non-oil shipments, including re-exports.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates continues to strengthen its position as a global trading hub, with re-export activity reaching record levels in recent years.
For Oman, sustained growth in re-exports and stable trade performance highlight the progress of economic diversification initiatives designed to expand non-oil sectors and enhance regional connectivity.
The Oman trade surplus demonstrates the country’s ability to maintain a strong external trade position despite softer energy exports. With rising re-export activity and expanding commercial links across the Gulf and Asia, the Sultanate continues to strengthen its role in regional trade while advancing its long-term economic diversification goals.
