AMMAN — Jordanian agricultural exports recorded notable growth during the first half of 2026, driven by an increase in shipments of fruits, vegetables, and animal products, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Saturday.

 

The ministry said that the figures reflect the expanding market access and export presence of Jordanian agricultural produce in international markets, despite persistent challenges, primarily high input, energy,transport, and logistics costs, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

 

Cumulative export indicators through the end of June 2026 showed a 14 per cent increase in fruit and vegetable exports compared with the same period in 2025, reaching some 281,700 tonnes.

 

Vegetable exports rose by 13.1 per cent, while fruit exports grew by 18 per cent.

 

Several key crops achieved remarkable growth.

 

In the livestock sector, hatching egg exports increased by 160 per cent to reach nearly 78 million eggs, while table egg exports grew by 71 per cent to approximately 135 million eggs, reflecting the sustained competitiveness of Jordanian animal products in international markets.

 

Meanwhile, live sheep exports stood at approximately 163,000 head, down from 515,000 head during the same period last year, marking a 68.3 per cent decline.

 

The ministry noted that this drop resulted from regulatory measures implemented to ensure sufficient local market supply and meet consumer demand, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al Adha.

 

The ministry stressed that the export surge did not negatively impact domestic consumer prices.

 

Consumer Price Index (CPI) data issued by the Department of Statistics showed a decrease in vegetable group prices during the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period of 2025.

 

Also, prices for meat and poultry fell by 6.9 per cent despite higher animal product exports.

 

These outcomes demonstrate the success of government policies aimed at balancing export promotion with local market stability, ensuring abundant domestic supply while supporting the competitiveness of Jordanian produce abroad, the ministry added.

 

On economic performance, gross domestic product (GDP) data at constant prices indicated that the agricultural sector recorded the highest growth rate among economic activities in the first three months of 2026.

 

Sector output rose to some JD608 million, up from JD570 million in the same period of 2025, marking an increase of JD38 million, representing a 6.7 per cent growth rate.

 

The ministry added that these indicators demonstrate the resilience of Jordan's agricultural sector and its ability to maintain growth despite operational headwinds, reiterating its commitment to supporting local producers, advancing sector sustainability, and boosting agriculture's contribution to food security and the national economy.