Bahrain: Visió econòmica i política
Bahrain's market constitutes one of the most diversified economies in the region. The country is very open to foreign trade, which accounts for around 160% of the GDP (World Bank, latest data available). Bahrain has a strong steel and aluminum industry: unwrought aluminum alloys emerged as the leading exports in 2023, totaling BHD 1.059 billion (27%), trailed by agglomerated iron ores and concentrates alloyed at BHD 689 million (18%), and non-alloyed aluminum wire ranking third with BHD 223 million (6%). As per imports, non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates alloyed emerged as the top product imported to Bahrain, with a total value of BHD 602 million (10%). Following closely, other aluminum oxide ranked second at BHD 448 million (8%), while gold ingots secured the third position with BHD 221 million (4% - data Information & eGovernment Authority).
Overall, the country has a structural trade surplus. In 2023, China held the top position for imports to Bahrain, totaling BHD 808 million (14%), followed by the United Arab Emirates in second place with BHD 547 million (9.5%), and Brazil ranking third with BHD 523 million (9%). On the other hand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia secured the top rank among countries for the exports of products with national origin, totaling BHD 937 million (24%). Following closely, the United Arab Emirates ranked second with BHD 444 million (11%), while the United States of America held the third position with BHD 371 million (9% - data Information & eGovernment Authority).
As per governmental data, the value of imports has decreased by 1%, reaching BHD 5.778 billion during 2023, compared to BHD 5.842 billion in 2022. Conversely, the value of exports of products with national origin marked a decrease by 21% to BHD 3.909 billion during 2023, compared to BHD 4.967 billion in 2022. As per services, the latest data available from WTO show that exports stood at USD 11.5 billion in 2022, against USD 8.5 billion in imports.
Foreign Trade Values | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 13,256 | 12,683 | 14,188 | 15,537 | 15,367 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 18,120 | 14,066 | 22,369 | 30,194 | 25,235 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 8,083 | 9,263 | 10,289 | 8,582 | n/a |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 11,765 | 11,497 | 13,225 | 11,571 | n/a |
Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 143.1 | 150.8 | 141.7 | 140.2 | 159.8 |
Trade Balance (million USD) | -700 | -1,066 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) | 2,856 | 2,910 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 7.6 | 5.7 | -5.6 | -0.7 | 15.2 |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 3.7 | 3.3 | 0.4 | -2.5 | 29.5 |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 67.3 | 71.6 | 65.2 | 67.3 | 70.2 |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 75.8 | 79.3 | 76.5 | 72.9 | 89.6 |
Source: World Bank ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Forecasts | 2023 | 2024 (e) | 2025 (e) | 2026 (e) | 2027 (e) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 10.8 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 13.0 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.7 |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
Member of Arab League.
The country is also 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.
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2023 |
Saudi Arabia | 23.5% |
United Arab Emirates | 14.3% |
United States | 8.4% |
Netherlands | 4.4% |
Egypt | 3.7% |
India | 3.1% |
Oman | 3.1% |
Türkiye | 3.0% |
Kuwait | 2.5% |
Algeria | 2.4% |
Italy | 2.1% |
South Korea | 1.9% |
Spain | 1.7% |
Morocco | 1.5% |
Malaysia | 1.5% |
Singapore | 1.3% |
Libya | 1.2% |
Germany | 1.2% |
Brazil | 1.1% |
Japan | 1.1% |
See More Countries | 45.8% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2023 |
China | 14.0% |
United Arab Emirates | 9.4% |
Brazil | 9.1% |
Australia | 8.2% |
Saudi Arabia | 6.4% |
United States | 6.3% |
India | 4.8% |
Japan | 4.5% |
Germany | 3.4% |
Italy | 2.6% |
France | 2.6% |
United Kingdom | 2.5% |
Switzerland | 2.3% |
Canada | 1.5% |
Türkiye | 1.4% |
Spain | 1.3% |
Thailand | 1.3% |
Kuwait | 1.2% |
South Korea | 1.0% |
Chile | 1.0% |
See More Countries | 53.0% |
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
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.
15.3 bn USD of services exported in 2023 | |
32.68% | |
30.30% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 30.30% |
OtherOther | 57.59% |
14.47% | |
12.12% | |
8.73% | |
1.66% | |
0.05% |
12.1 bn USD of services imported in 2023 | |
35.39% | |
33.75% | |
16.67% | |
9.48% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 9.48% |
OtherOther | 56.77% |
4.70% |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Vols fer algun comentari sobre aquest contingut? Escriu-nos.
© eexpand, Tots els drets reservats.
Actualitzacions: October 2024
Utilitzem cookies per assegurar la teva connexió i fer estadístiques sobre el nombre de visites. Per obtenir més informació sobre les cookies i saber com rebutjar-les, visita la nostra pàgina de política de cookies .
Aquesta finestra emergent et permet definir la teva preferència de cookies i decidir quin tipus de cookies vols permetre al teu dispositiu.