Amman - The deficit in Jordan's balance of trade shrank 33.2 per cent in January for the first time in several years mainly on falling oil prices, according to official statistics released on Saturday.

The Department of Statistics put the trade gap in January at 374.3 million dinars (529 million dollars), compared with 560.3 million dinars in January 2008.

The decline in the trade deficit was attributed by economists mainly to a 15 per cent shrinkage in the value of imports, which stood at 782.3 million dinars compared with 920 million dinars in January 2008. The trimmed oil bill was mainly cited for the retreating volume of imports, they said.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan's main supplier of oil, led the list of exporters to the country, followed by China and Germany.

The Department of Statistics also reported a 16.9 per cent rise in Jordanian exports, to 265.5 million dinars in January 2009 from a year earlier.

Iraq led the list of markets for Jordanian goods, followed by the United States and Indonesia. (dpa)