Amman: Jordanian agricultural exports have shown considerable growth during the first half of 2026, as announced by the Ministry of Agriculture. The rise is attributed to an increase in exports of vegetables, fruits, and several animal products.
According to Jordan News Agency, the ministry stated that this increase highlights the ability of Jordanian agricultural products to penetrate foreign markets and bolster their export presence. This progress occurs despite significant challenges, such as rising costs of production inputs, energy, transportation, and logistics. During the January to June period, cumulative export indicators displayed a 14% increase in vegetable and fruit exports compared to the same period in 2025, amounting to approximately 281,700 tons.
The Ministry detailed that vegetable exports climbed by 13.1%, while fruit exports rose by 18%. Among the notable increases, potato exports surged by 200%, reaching approximately 12,000 tons, compared to about 4,000 tons in the same period last year. Watermelon exports also witnessed a significant jump of 285%, reaching 26,137 tons, a near fourfold increase over 2025. Carrot exports experienced exceptional growth as well, reflecting improved marketing opportunities for Jordanian agricultural products and the opening of new export markets.
In the livestock sector, hatching egg exports rose by 160%, reaching around 78 million eggs, and table egg exports increased by 71%, totaling about 135 million eggs. These figures indicate the continued competitiveness of Jordanian livestock products in international markets. Conversely, live sheep exports saw a decline, totaling nearly 163,000 head compared to 515,000 head during the same period last year, marking a decrease of 68.3%. This drop was attributed to regulatory measures aimed at ensuring a sufficient supply in the local market to meet consumer needs, particularly during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha.
Despite the rise in exports, the Ministry noted that local market prices of agricultural products remained stable. Data from the Department of Statistics showed a decrease in vegetable prices during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Meat and poultry prices also fell by 6.9%, despite the increase in animal product exports. The Ministry emphasized that these results demonstrate the effectiveness of policies designed to balance export growth with local market stability, ensuring abundant products for consumers and supporting the competitiveness of Jordanian products abroad.
In terms of economic performance, the Ministry highlighted that the agricultural sector recorded the highest growth rate among economic activities in the first quarter of 2026, based on GDP data at constant prices. The sector reached approximately JD608 million, compared to JD570 million in the same period in 2025, marking an increase of JD38 million or a growth rate of 6.7%. The Ministry affirmed that these indicators reflect the resilience of Jordan's agricultural sector and its capacity to grow and expand its presence in foreign markets, despite challenges related to rising production, energy, transportation, and input costs.
The Ministry called for continued support for producers and efforts to enhance the sector's sustainability, which would help balance export development, domestic market stability, and bolster agriculture's contribution to the national economy and food security.