By the end of May 2024, the Sultanate of Oman had imported vegetables and fruits worth RO 110.340 million, with a total weight of approximately 320.569 million kilogrammes. This marks an increase from RO 98.893 million and 306.581 million kilogrammes by the end of May 2023, reflecting a growth of 11.6 per cent in value, according to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information.
The value of vegetable imports by the end of May 2024 stood at RO 42.653 million for a total weight of about 146.149 million kilogrammes. This is a significant rise from RO 29.438 million for 139.661 million kilogrammes by the end of May 2023, showing a 44.9 per cent increase in value. Fruit imports amounted to RO 67.687 million for a total weight of about 174.420 million kilogrammes by the end of May 2024, compared to RO 69.455 million for 166.920 million kilogrammes by the end of May 2023, a decrease of 2.5 per cent in value.
The key import sources for vegetables included the United Arab Emirates at RO 10.973 million, Yemen at RO 10.860 million, and India at RO 4.659 million. For fruits, the main sources were the United Arab Emirates at RO 18.845 million, Egypt at RO 9.492 million, and India at RO 9.275 million.
Oman’s exports of vegetables and fruits totaled RO 13.592 million for a weight of 59.568 million kilogrammes by the end of May 2024, compared to RO 11.923 million and 49.416 million kilogrammes by the end of May 2023. Specifically, vegetable exports were valued at RO 8.941 million for 37.813 million kilogrammes by May 2024, up from RO 8.604 million for 40.553 million kilogrammes by May 2023, an increase of 3.9 per cent in value. Fruit exports were valued at RO 4.651 million for 21.755 million kilogrammes by May 2024, up from RO 3.320 million for 8.863 million kilogrammes by May 2023, an increase of 40.1 per cent in value.
The key export destinations for vegetables included the United Arab Emirates at RO 3.961 million, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at RO 1.660 million, and Kuwait at RO 0.817 million. For fruits, the main destinations were Qatar at RO 1.473 million, the United Arab Emirates at RO 1.095 million, and Bahrain at RO 0.784 million.
The total value of re-exports from Oman of vegetables and fruits by the end of May 2024 was RO 2.441 million for a weight of 6.789 million kilogrammes, up from RO 2.133 million and 7.829 million kilogrammes by the end of May 2023. Vegetable re-exports were valued at RO 0.460 million for 1.613 million kilogrammes by May 2024, down from RO 0.570 million for 2.963 million kilogrammes by May 2023, a decrease of 19.2 per cent in value. Fruit re-exports were valued at RO 1.981 million for 5.177 million kilogrammes by May 2024, up from RO 1.563 million for 4.867 million kilogrammes by May 2023, an increase of 26.7 per cent in value.
The key re-export destinations for vegetables were Somalia at RO 0.076 million and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at RO 0.070 million, while the main destinations for fruits were the United Arab Emirates at RO 0.397 million, Kuwait at RO 0.297 million, and Vietnam at RO 0.267 million. As of May 2024, there were about 654 establishments operating in the retail activity of specialised stores for fresh fruits, vegetables, and dates in Oman.
ONA