Amman:Jordan's food manufacturing sector includes approximately 2,600 industrial enterprises with a registered capital of JOD 674 million (USD 950 million), providing over 66,500 direct jobs, as outlined in the National Food Industry Strategy 2027-2029 released Sunday.
According to Jordan News Agency, the strategy, drafted by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply in collaboration with the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) and supported by economic reform programs, reveals that local food manufacturers supply over 62 percent of domestic market demand. This results in an annual gross output of JOD 4.5 billion (USD 6.35 billion), with a total value-added of JOD 1.8 billion (USD 2.54 billion), representing roughly 40 percent of overall production.
On the trade front, the sector's exports recorded a 102 percent cumulative growth rate over the past five years, reaching JOD 823 million in 2024 and JOD 443 million in the first half of 2025. Jordanian food products are now exported to more than 109 countries worldwide.
The strategy document highlighted that a significant portion of exports is concentrated in neighboring regional markets, with Saudi Arabia and Iraq accounting for nearly 58 percent of total shipments among the top 10 destination markets between 2022 and 2025. Cumulative exports to Saudi Arabia reached JOD 607 million, while Iraq accounted for JOD 482 million.
In addition, exports to the United States showed the highest increase among major foreign destinations, expanding by 498 percent in 2025, with cumulative trade reaching JOD 98 million. This indicates promising opportunities in non-regional markets.
The strategy also pointed out the sector's main operational challenge, emphasizing the need for structural value-addition to support ongoing expansion rather than relying solely on volume-driven demand. It calls for market diversification and greater penetration into high-value global retail supply chains.