Oman Minerals Trading Company announced the launch of the first integrated shipment of Omani chrome ore, with a load exceeding 50,000 tons, through the port of Sohar. This achievement opens a new chapter in the marketing and export of Omani chrome, while the average selling price of gypsum exports increased by 8 percent in 2026 compared to the same period last year.

The shipment of chromium included several types of Omani ore in a single shipment, which allows for meeting the needs of a larger number of buyers and factories, in a move aimed at expanding the customer base and opening new marketing channels for Omani chromium ore in global markets.

Marketing operations included Asian and European markets, along with direct contact with factories using Omani chrome ore for the first time, which supports market diversification and direct access to end consumers, and opens the way for building long-term business relationships.

In the gypsum sector, the company marketed and exported more than 1.8 million tons to 11 countries, through more than 32 ships that departed from the port of Salalah, coinciding with an 8 percent increase in the average selling price compared to the same period last year.

Gypsum export destinations included a number of Gulf markets, including Kuwait, as well as expansion into new African markets and the reactivation of exports to the South Korean market, as part of efforts to diversify destinations and reduce dependence on a limited number of markets.

Hussain bin Ali Al Lawati, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Minerals Trading Company, said that the launch of the integrated shipment of chrome ore represents an important step in developing the Omani metal markets, noting that diversifying markets and direct access to consumers are key pillars of the marketing strategy.

He added that the results recorded in gypsum exports, including the rise in the average selling price and the expansion of the market base, reflect the importance of managing marketing and export operations in a more integrated manner, stressing that the priority is to achieve the best possible commercial value for Omani raw materials while maintaining the need to meet the needs of the local market.

He pointed out that the company is working to support the growth of manufacturing industries related to minerals within the Sultanate of Oman, by achieving a balance between exporting and providing the necessary supplies for local industry, which contributes to raising the added value of mineral resources and supporting investments related to them.

The Oman Minerals Trading Company, a subsidiary of Minerals Development Oman, handles the marketing and export of gypsum and chrome ore, through centrally managing export operations and negotiating with buyers in foreign markets. The company began its commercial operations by exporting its first shipments of gypsum through the port of Salalah, within its mandate to manage exports of raw gypsum and chromium from the Sultanate of Oman.

The company was established under Ministerial Resolution No. (18/2025), which granted it the exclusive right to export raw gypsum and chromium as of June 2026, while local sales remain outside its jurisdiction. Through the central export model, the company aims to unify marketing and negotiation processes, improve access to markets and buyers, and enhance transparency and competitiveness in export marketing, thereby supporting the commercial value of Omani mineral raw materials in global markets.