Import level
above pre-crisis

Total trade deficit exceeds $17 billion

Real economy imports, which exclude petroleum products, precious stones, pearls and precious metals (such as gold), increased by 24 percent to $12.6 billion in 2025 from the previous year, according to Customs data. Real economy exports also grew, rising by eight percent to $2 billion. They exclude metal scrap in addition to jewelry, pearls, precious stones, and petroleum products.

The real economy trade deficit widened by 28 percent to $10.5 billion in 2025 as the surge in imports largely offset a moderate increase in exports which already have a smaller impact on the deficit due to their tiny size relative to imports.

Total imports, including petroleum products, precious stones, pearls and precious metals, increased by $4.2 billion (up 25 percent) to $21.1 billion. The increase in total exports was $932 million (up 34 percent) to $3.6 billion. The deficit in total trade widened by 23 percent to $17.4 billion. In nominal terms, the 2025 total import figures slightly exceed for the first time, their pre-crisis levels when they typically ranged between $19 billion and $20 billion.