Face mask imports reach JD2.5m during first five months of 2020 — DoS

AMMAN — The Kingdom imported face masks worth JD2.5 million during the first five months of the year compared with JD2.4 million during the same period of 2019, according to the Department of Statistics (DoS).

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kingdom's demand for face masks reached 500,000 masks a day, while local production increased from four million to six million, manufactured by 20 factories, according to the DoS. The DoS figures showed that the pre-crisis production capacity was less than 30,000 masks, manufactured by three specialised factories.

Development Manager at Arabella for Medical Technologies Omran Zoubi said that the number of Jordanian employees increased from 80 to 130 employees during the crisis.

He also said that the percentage of exports jumped from 30 to 70 per cent, mainly to the Gulf states, Europe, the US and neighbouring countries, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.