Amman - The deficit in Jordan's balance of trade grew by 43.4 per cent in the first seven months of the year, to 4.222 billion dinars (5.96 billion dollars) from 2.944 billion dinars in the same period of 2007, according to official statistics released Saturday.

The trade deficit expansion was blamed by economists mainly on a 38.2 per cent rise in imports, which stood at 7.259 billion dinars in the first seven months of 2008 compared with 5.252 billion dinars in the same period of last year.

Jordan's oil bill jumped by 109 per cent between January and July, to 1.324 billion dinars from 633 million dinars in the same period of 2007, the Department of Statistics said.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan's main crude supplier, topped the list of exporters to Jordan, followed by China and Germany.

Jordan's imports from the European Union countries grew by 16.8 per cent in the first seven months of the year, to 1.56 billion dinars from 1.335 billion dinars.

Jordan's exports and re-exports grew by 31.6 per cent, to 3.037 billion dinars from 2.307 billion dinars.

The United States led the list of importers from Jordan, followed by India and Iraq. (dpa)