MUSCAT: Oman’s economy has achieved a robust 10.1 per cent growth rate at OMR20.33 billion for the first nine months of 2017, mainly driven by a remarkable growth in crude oil prices in the international market and surge in non-oil activities. The average price of Oman Crude surged ahead by 27.8 per cent to $51.3 per barrel during January-December period of 2017, against $40.1 a barrel for the same period of 2016, shows the monthly report released by National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) on Monday.
With an increase in crude oil price, the economy started gaining strength since the beginning of last year, reversing a slackness witnessed during the previous two years.The budget deficit for the first eleven months between January and November showed a marked fall of 33.2 per cent to OMR3,296.6 million, against OMR4,937.6 million, added the report.
An increase in revenue and austerity measures helped the government contain the budget deficit, said a market analyst. The government revenue increased by 16.2 per cent to OMR7,219.7 million for the first eleven months of 2017, from OMR6,210.5 million for the same period of 2016.
Net oil revenue alone rose by 31.2 per cent to OMR4,058.5 million for the January to November period of this year.
Oman’s budget deficit falls by 1%
Muscat: The Sultanate’s budget deficit fell 1 per cent to OMR1,896.8 million till the end. The budget deficit for the...