Jordan flag Jordan: Economic and Political Overview

Foreign trade figures of Jordan

Foreign Trade in Figures

Jordan is very open to international trade to the extent that it is dependent on foreign capital; however, its relative share of GDP has diminished considerably after 2014 and is estimated at 100% (World Bank, latest data available). Exports are spearheaded by special garments (14.8%), potassic fertilisers (7.3%), natural calcium phosphates (6.7%), diphosphorus pentaoxide (6.6%), and articles of jewellery (6.5%); whereas imports are led by petroleum oils (7.1%), motor cars (6.3%), gold (5.3%), petroleum oils (4.1%), and fabrics (2.3% - data Comtrade for 2023).

The United States was by far the main destination for Jordanian exports (22.9% of all exports in 2023), followed by India (13.7%), Saudi Arabia (11.5%), Iraq (7.5%), and the United Arab Emirates (4.3%). On the other hand, China (17.5%), Saudi Arabia (14.2%), the United States (6.4%), India (6.0%), and the UAE (5.3%) were the main suppliers in 2023 (data Comtrade). Jordan is a member of the WTO and signed a free-trade agreement with the U.S. in 2001, allowing the removal of customs duties on the majority of goods and services since 2010 when it was fully implemented. Jordan has also signed an Agreement of Association with the EU. In addition to the United States, Jordan is also party to bilateral trade agreements with Canada and Singapore and is a signatory to several regional trade agreements including the European Free Trade Association (Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein), Greater Arab Free Trade Agreement (GAFTA), and Aghadir Agreement (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia) which is connected to the Association Agreement (EU).

Jordan's trade balance is structurally in deficit, mainly because of the country's reliance on hydrocarbon imports. The exports of goods were stable at USD 12.7 billion and the imports to USD 25.4 billion in 2023 (-6.9% year-on-year - data WTO). However, the country is a net service exporter (USD 10.4 billion in exports against USD 5.9 billion in imports in 2023). The World Bank estimated the country’s trade deficit at 13.2% of GDP in the same year (from 19% in 2022). In 2024, six industrial products dominated Jordan's exports, accounting for 57% of total exports valued at JOD 8.579 billion (USD 12.1 billion), according to the Department of Statistics. Apparel and accessories led with a 19.4% share and a 25.6% year-on-year growth, reaching JOD 1.665 billion. Chemical fertilisers followed with 11.1%, while pharmaceuticals contributed 7.1%, growing 14.8% to JOD 611 million. While apparel and pharmaceuticals saw growth, traditional sectors underperformed. Chemical fertilisers fell 2.3% to JOD 955 million, jewellery dropped 21.5% to JOD 648 million, raw potash declined 28.4% to JOD 466 million, and phosphate exports decreased 9.3% to JOD 547 million.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 19,17017,23321,54227,36425,470
Exports of Goods (million USD) 8,3177,9439,35812,78012,763
Imports of Services (million USD) 4,9113,0954,1545,6795,971
Exports of Services (million USD) 7,8532,5014,5127,95510,428

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20192020202120222023
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 85.766.180.3104.1100.3
Trade Balance (million USD) -8,735-7,386-9,810-11,562-10,366
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) -5,793-7,980-9,452-9,275-6,736
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 49.442.250.461.656.7
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 36.323.930.042.543.5

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 20242025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)2028 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 1.35.83.63.43.3
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 1.83.03.13.23.1

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
The Jordanian economy is very open. The country is part of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area(GAFTA), a pact of the Arab League entered into force in January 2005 which aims to form an Arabic free trade area. It has also signed bilateral free trade agreements with most of the countries of the Arab League. Jordan has also signed an agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the United States and Singapore. Jordan has signed the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement which provides for a free trade area between the European Union and the other signatory countries. Finally, Jordan is a member of the Agadir agreement which provides for a system of free trade between Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt. Jordan also signed a Free Trade Agreement with Canada.
 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
United States 22.9%
India 13.7%
Saudi Arabia 11.5%
Iraq 7.5%
United Arab Emirates 4.3%
See More Countries 40.1%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
China 17.5%
Saudi Arabia 14.2%
United States 6.4%
India 6.0%
United Arab Emirates 5.3%
See More Countries 50.6%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

12.6 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Special garments for professional, sporting or...Special garments for professional, sporting or other purposes, n.e.s., knitted or crocheted 14.8%
Mineral or chemical potassic fertilisers (excl....Mineral or chemical potassic fertilisers (excl. those in tablets or similar forms, or in packages with a gross weight of <= 10 kg) 7.3%
Natural calcium phosphates and natural aluminium...Natural calcium phosphates and natural aluminium calcium phosphates, natural and phosphatic chalk 6.7%
Diphosphorus pentaoxide; phosphoric acid;...Diphosphorus pentaoxide; phosphoric acid; polyphosphoric acids, whether or not chemically defined 6.6%
Articles of jewellery and parts thereof, of...Articles of jewellery and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal (excl. articles > 100 years old) 6.5%
See More Products 58.0%
25.7 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 7.1%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 6.3%
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 5.3%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 4.1%
Fabrics, knitted or crocheted, of a width of > 30...Fabrics, knitted or crocheted, of a width of > 30 cm (excl. warp knit fabrics "incl. those made on galloon knitting machines", those containing by weight >= 5% of elastomeric yarn or rubber thread, and pile fabrics, incl. "long pile", looped pile fabrics, labels, badges and similar articles, and knitted or crocheted fabrics, impregnated, coated, covered or laminated) 2.3%
See More Products 74.8%

Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: May 2025