Muscat: According to data released by the Statistical Center of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the agriculture and fisheries sector registered a 5.1 percent growth in 2024 compared to 2023, while maintaining a 1.7 percent share of the overall GCC GDP.

Agricultural and fisheries exports rose significantly to $7.8 billion, marking a 17.5 percent increase, while imports reached $38.7 billion, up by 10.1 percent. The figures reflect ongoing efforts by GCC nations to improve production efficiency and strengthen the region’s food security systems.

The growth was largely driven by increased production across plant, livestock and fisheries sectors, as well as stronger regional and international trade in agricultural and seafood products.

Total plant production across the GCC reached about 12.7 million tonnes in 2024, compared to 12.2 million tonnes in 2023, representing a growth of 3.9 percent. Vegetables accounted for the largest share, making up 45.8 percent of the total plant output, underscoring their importance in the region’s food production structure.

In the livestock sector, the GCC recorded 42.5 million heads of livestock in 2024, reflecting a 3.6 percent increase over the previous year. Sheep remained the dominant livestock category, accounting for 60.5 percent of the total, with approximately 25.7 million heads. Goats followed with 12.5 million heads, while camels and cattle stood at 3.2 million and 1.2 million heads respectively.

The report highlighted the notable role of goats in certain countries, particularly in Oman, where they represent 64.4 percent of total domestic livestock, and in the United Arab Emirates, where they account for 44.4 percent.

Animal production indicators also showed strong progress. Table egg production reached about 12 billion eggs in 2024, up from 11 billion in 2023, marking an 8.4 percent increase. Saudi Arabia led the region, accounting for 70.4 percent of total egg production, followed by Kuwait (10.8 percent), the UAE (9.4 percent) and Oman (8.2 percent).

Meanwhile, chicken meat production climbed to around 1.6 million tonnes, compared to 1.4 million tonnes in 2023, reflecting a robust 17.9 percent growth, signalling continued expansion in food and livestock production chains across the region.

The fisheries sector also recorded strong performance, with total fish production reaching 1.1 million tonnes in 2024, an increase of 12.2 percent compared to the previous year. The growth reflects the GCC’s increasing investment in fisheries and aquaculture as key pillars of food security and economic diversification.

Despite these gains, agricultural expansion in the region continues to face geographical and environmental constraints. The total area of GCC countries spans 2.4 million square kilometres, yet land used for agriculture accounts for only 9,200 square kilometres, representing just 0.4 percent of the total area. This limitation has pushed GCC states to adopt modern agricultural technologies, expand protected agriculture, and invest in aquaculture and resource-efficient farming methods.

Intra-regional trade also recorded positive growth. Agricultural exports within GCC countries reached $4.8 billion in 2024, up from $4.5 billion in 2023, representing a 7.2 percent increase. Similarly, intra-regional fish exports rose to $214.4 million, compared to $189.3 million in the previous year, marking a 13.3 percent growth.