Over the first quarter of 2020, the volume of bilateral trade between Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) exceeded SR3 billion ($819 million), according to the latest figures issued by Bahrain's Information and e-Government Authority. This represents a growth of 15.3% compared to the same period last year, which came despite the exceptional circumstances brought about by the spread of COVID-19. This continued growth in trade has been attributed to the constant flow of commercial freight between the two countries via the King Fahd Bridge, even while access for passengers has been temporarily suspended. KSA took the lion's share of the volume of bilateral trade between Bahrain and GCC countries in Q1, accounting for 49.1% of the $1.667 billion total. KSA was followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which accounted for 33.81% of the GCC total at $550.4 million. The value of total imports to Bahrain from the GCC stood at $541.4million in Q1. Imports from KSA were valued at $250.2million, followed by the UAE at $215.1million, Oman with $41.4million and finally Kuwait with $24.4 million. The value of non-oil exports from Bahrain to the GCC stood at $1.126 billion for Q1. Again, trade with Saudi Arabia ranked highest, as it imported $569.9million worth of goods from the Kingdom, followed by the UAE with a value of $339.9million, Oman with a value of $139.9million, and finally Kuwait, which imported goods from Bahrain with a value of $76 million. — SG
