The deficit in Jordan's trade balance grew by 66.7 per cent in January, to 560 million dinars (791 million dollars) from 336 million dinars in the same period of 2007, the state-run Department of Statistics said Monday. ( dpa )
Economists attributed the sharp rise mainly to a 43.1 per cent increase in imports which stood in January at 920 million dinars compared with 643 million dinars in January 2007.
They blamed the soaring trade deficit partly to the surging crude prices on the world market. However, Jordan's exports and re-exports grew by 17.3 per cent in January, to 360 million dinars, the Department said.
Imports increased tangibly from Saudi Arabia, the kingdom's main supplier of oil, and from the European Union countries, it added.