Bahrain's value of imports increased by 15 per cent as it reached BD1.293 billion ($3.43 billion) during first quarter of 2018 compared to BD1.124 billion ($2.98 billion) for the same quarter of the previous year, said a report.

The top 10 countries account for 67 per cent of the imports value and the rest other countries, said the foreign trade report by Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) for the first quarter of 2018, which encompasses balance of trade, imports, exports and re-exports (national origin).

According to the report, China was ranked as the top exporter to Bahrain with BD160 million ($424.35 million); UAE came second with BD116 million ($307.6 million), whereas Saudi Arabia (KSA) ranked third with BD99 million ($262.56 million).

Aluminium oxide emerged as the top product imported to Bahrain with BD60 million ($159.13 million), while the four-wheel drive cars as the second with BD51 million ($135.26 million). Sedan cars came as third products with BD45 million ($119.34 million) during first quarter of 2018.

Additionally, the value of the exported national origin decreased by 9 per cent as it reached BD538 million ($1.426 billion) during first quarter of 2018 compared to BD594 million ($1.57 billion) for the same quarter of the previous year. The top 10 countries account for 79 per cent of the exported national origin value and 21 per cent for other countries.