Riyadh – Mubasher: Trade between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain has returned to levels not seen since before the coronavirus pandemic, with new figures revealing $1.48 billion in bilateral trade during the first half (H1) of 2020.

Trade exchange between the two Gulf nations was up by 2% year-on-year (YoY) in H1-20, hitting a total of $1.45 billion, according to a press release on Monday.

June's figures showed the positive economic impact of support measures on the economies of both kingdoms, with trade returning to $262.9 million, the highest levels since March. When compared to 2019, the month showed substantial YoY growth of 52.45%.

Saudi Arabia is one of Bahrain's key trading partners, with imports and exports flowing between the two nations via the King Fahd Causeway.

Based on the new data, Bahrain's overall trade reached $10.4 billion globally for the year-half, including $2.9 billion to other GCC nations. The kingdom's overall global trade figures during H1 went down by just 2%, despite the global health crisis.  

Bahrain, moreover, is becoming a regional distribution hub for the logistics industry, with exports to the GCC over H1 of the year representing 66% of the total figure.

Imports to the kingdom from the rest of the GCC represented 34% of the kingdom's bilateral trade.