Kuwaits non-oil exports up by 17 percent in May

KUWAIT: Kuwait's non-oil exports edged up by 17 percent in May, compared with the same month of last year, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said yesterday. Kuwait's total exports to Arab and foreign countries hit roughly KD 9.4 million (around $31 million) in May against KD 8 million (about $26.5 million) in the same month of last year, it said in a press statement. The oil-rich country's exports to Arab countries, excluding the GCC members, totaled KD 4.4 million ($14.5 million), compared with KD 5 million ($16.5 million) to foreign countries, it added. Kuwaiti exports to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states amounted to KD 2.5 million (around $8.3 million) last May, according to the statement. Iraq was Kuwait's main importer, followed by Jordan, Lebanon, Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia, while Qatar topped the list of GCC importers, chased by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Bahrain. Regarding Kuwait's exports to other world countries, Italy came first, while Turkey, Belgium, Bulgaria, France and Portugal followed respectively, the statement added. - KUNA