Amman  - The deficit in Jordan's balance of trade shrank by 40.9 per cent in the first two months of the year, to 629.4 million dinars (889 million dollars) from 1.065 billion dinars in the same period of 2008, according to official figures released Saturday.

Economists attributed the narrowing trade gap mainly to a 21.8 per cent decline in imports, which stood at 1.426 billion dinars in January and February, compared with 1.823 billion dinars in the first two months of 2008.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan's key oil supplier, led exporters to the Jordanian market, with China and Germany coming in the second and third places respectively.

Jordan's imports from the European Union countries dropped by 25.5 per cent in the first two months of the year, to 315 million dinars, the state-run Department of Statistics said.

However, the Department reported a 5 per cent rise in the country's exports and re-exports in January and February, to 796.5 million dinars from 758.5 million dinars in the same period of 2008. (dpa)