Comparative analysis of export competitiveness of Yemen and other MENA countries

The study aimed to determine the external competitiveness of Yemen and MENA countries between 2000 and 2016 using the Balassa Index and Lafay Index. The index values obtained by analyzing SITC Rev. 3, 2 digit product groups were tried to show the extent to which the countries had competitive power in which product groups. Results from the study showed that the values of the two indicators used were close together. According to the results, Bahryen's mines do not contain oil, fertilizers and iron, United Arab Emirates, oil and special transactions and goods not subject to any classification, Algeria's coal, petro, natural gas, fish and other seafood, fruit and vegetables, fertilizers, animal liquids, inorganic chemical products and clothing and their accessories, Iran's oil, Israel's fertilizers and other non-metal items, Qatar's oil, natural gas and Fertilizers, Kuwait's oil, Lebanon's fruits and vegetables, sugar, tobacco, metal ore, fertilizers, other non-metal items and non-gold, Egypt's fruits and vegetables, woven fiber, fertilizers and mines, and natural gas, Yemen, Oman and Saudi Arabia's oil and natural gas, Tunisia's inorganic chemicals and Fertilizers, and Jordan's live animals, fruits and vegetables, tobacco, fertilizers, processed liquids, fats; candles, inorganic chemicals and paper groups it stands out that it has a high level of competitiveness. The analysis of competitiveness of both MENA countries and Yemen on the basis of factor density shows that the countries in question have advantages in mainly labor and raw material intensive products. The MENA countries and Yemen are predominantly non-competitive in the export of high value-added products.