The Sultanate of Oman’s trade balance recorded a surplus of OMR 1.54 billion by the end of March 2026, up slightly from OMR 1.53 billion during the same period in 2025.

Preliminary data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information, showed that the total value of goods exports stood at OMR 5.3 billion, down 8.5% from OMR 5.8 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2025.

Merchandise imports also declined by 11.7% to OMR 3.8 billion, compared with OMR 4.3 billion during the corresponding period last year.

The decrease in exports was largely driven by lower oil and gas exports, which fell 13% to OMR 3.4 billion from OMR 3.9 billion a year earlier.

Non-oil merchandise exports remained broadly stable, edging down 0.6% to OMR 1.61 billion, compared with OMR 1.62 billion in the same period of 2025.

In contrast, re-exports recorded growth of 4.6%, reaching OMR 367 million by the end of March 2026, up from OMR 351 million a year earlier.

The United Arab Emirates remained Oman’s leading destination for non-oil exports, accounting for OMR 382 million. It also topped re-export destinations with OMR 102 million and was Omans largest source of imports at OMR 1.1 billion.

Saudi Arabia ranked second among destinations for Oman’s non-oil exports at OMR 201 million, followed by India at OMR 156 million.

In re-exports, Saudi Arabia ranked second with OMR 102 million, followed by Iran at OMR 48 million.

On the import side, China was Oman’s second-largest trading partner with imports valued at OMR 537 million, followed by Saudi Arabia at OMR 308 million.