November 12, 2008

Japan Remains to be Bahrain’s Second Largest(*) Trading Partner

 

The overall trade amount between Bahrain and Japan amounted to $1,106.7 million in 2007, which grew by 2.6% last year. Trade between Bahrain and Japan has surpassed $ one billion for the last consecutive two years.

The trade statistics released by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) showed that Bahrain’s imports from Japan soared by 25.2% and reached $676.6 million in 2007. Japanese exports constitute mostly cars and machinery.

During the same period, Bahrain’s exports to Japan were $430.1 million. Bahrain’s exports to Japan consistitute mostly of petroleum and aluminum products. Japan’s imports of petroleum products from Bahrain dropped 21.1%, which led overall decrease of imports by 20.1%.

The bilateral trade between Bahrain and Japan is continuing to rise this year. During 1 st half 2008, Bahrain’s imports from Japan grew by 45.2% ($433.5 million) and Bahrain’s exports to Japan grew by 7.1% ($228.4 million) compared to the same period 2007, the overall bilateral trade reaching to $662 million which is higher by 29.3% than the same period last year. The rise, however, is partly attributable to recent yen’s appreciation.

 

(*) Bahrain’s largest trading partner is the United States and trade amount between Bahrain and U.S. in 2007 is 1,246.2 million USD (source : U.S. Department of Commerce)

 

The trade between GCC countries and Japan also remained strong last year. High rate of imports (growth rate of 37.5%) was attributed to a surge in the imports of machinery and equipment. The volume of Japan’s crude oil imports from the GCC countries declined by 6.3% in 2007. However, thanks to the high oil price, value in $ increased by 1.3%, and overall GCC countries’ exports to Japan grew by 2.7%.

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Chart 1 Trade between Bahrain and Japan
Chart 2 Trade between GCC and Japan in 2007

 
 
Copyright(C): 2012 Embassy of Japan in Bahrain