Kuwaiti products cross borders: $1 billion in exports in six months

Kuwaiti national products continued to strengthen their presence in regional and global markets during the first half of 2026, driven by the diversity of their product base and export destinations. Official figures released by the International Relations Department of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed that the total number of non-oil Kuwaiti certificates of origin issued to various countries worldwide reached approximately 9,768 certificates, with a total value of about 1.040 billion dinars.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries accounted for the largest share in terms of the number of certificates of origin issued during the period, reflecting the significant weight of Gulf markets in Kuwait’s non-oil export flows. The number of certificates directed to GCC states reached 8,523, with a total value of 563.1 million dinars.

European countries ranked second in terms of the value of Kuwait’s non-oil exports, despite the limited number of certificates of origin issued to them. Only 45 certificates were recorded, with a total value of 440.9 million dinars, reflecting a high average value per certificate compared to other markets. In third place in terms of the number of certificates were exports to Arab and Islamic countries, totaling 1,164 certificates of origin with a combined value of 57.5 million dinars during the first half of the year.

Exports to the American continents recorded 16 certificates of origin with a total value of 547.2 thousand dinars, while certificates of origin issued to Asian countries and Australia totaled 15, with a combined value of 1.2 million dinars. Regarding the African continent, Kuwaiti exports recorded only 5 certificates of origin during January and February, with a total value of 20.2 million dinars, before exports to the continent ceased from early March until the end of June, amid war conditions and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The map of certificates of origin reflects the broad geographical reach of Kuwaiti non-oil products in external markets, starting from GCC countries and Arab and Islamic nations, passing through European and African markets, and extending to Asia, Australia, and the American continents.

National exports are also characterized by the diversity of products manufactured by Kuwaiti factories and directed to external markets. These include, but are not limited to, liquefied gases, food products, polyethylene, organic solvents, empty cardboard boxes, white spirit, refined oils, mineral oil liquids, medical oxygen, dairy products, empty glass bottles, and copper rods.