SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook-owned Instagram on Tuesday made a move into potentially lucrative e-commerce by adding an option to buy products shown off in posts by selected brands.
A new “checkout” button for instant purchasing launched in a beta version of the app in the US with a limited number of businesses, according to the popular image-centric messaging service.
“We’re introducing Checkout on Instagram,” the Silicon Valley based division of Facebook said in an online post.
“When you find a product you love, you can now buy it without leaving the app.”
Tapping the checkout button will allow shoppers to select options such as size or color and then pay for items without leaving the Instagram app.
Previously, people inspired to buy products featured in Instagram posts had to follow links to outside online shopping sites.
Information entered for an initial purchase will be stored for future use, according to Instagram.
It remained to be seen how people would feel trusting information such as credit card details to a service owned by Facebook, which has been hit with waves of criticism for its handling of personal data.
Brands taking part in the checkout feature included Adidas, Burberry, Dior, H&M, Nike, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, and glasses retailer Warby Parker.
Facebook makes the bulk of its money from digital advertising but has dabbled with e-commerce in the past. It has pitched its Messenger service as a communication platform for shops or brands to connect with customers.
Instagram moves into e-commerce with shopping button
Instagram moves into e-commerce with shopping button
- A new “checkout” button for instant purchasing launched in a beta version of the app in the US with a limited number of businesses
- Facebook makes the bulk of its money from digital advertising but has dabbled with e-commerce in the past
Oman trade surplus narrows 27% in 2025 as oil exports decline
JEDDAH: Oman’s trade surplus narrowed 27 percent to 6.09 billion Omani rials ($15.8 billion) by the end of 2025, as lower oil and gas export earnings offset gains in non-oil shipments and re-exports.
Preliminary data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information showed the surplus fell from 8.34 billion rials a year earlier, with total merchandise exports declining 7.1 percent to 23.26 billion rials, the Oman News Agency reported.
The weaker trade balance reflects softer hydrocarbon revenues in a year marked by lower global crude prices. Benchmark Brent Crude averaged about $69 a barrel in 2025, down from roughly $80 a barrel in 2024, as global supply outpaced demand and inventories increased.
“Conversely, total registered merchandise imports into Oman rose 2.7 percent to 17.167 billion rials, compared with 16.713 billion rials during the same period in 2024,” the ONA report added.
The agency added that the decline in Oman’s merchandise exports was mainly due to a fall in oil and gas exports, which totaled 14.51 billion rials by the end of 2025, down 15.2 percent from 17.11 billion rials a year earlier.
Non-oil merchandise exports, however, increased 7.5 percent to 6.7 billion rials by the end of December, compared with 6.23 billion rials during the same period of 2024.
Re-exports also rose to nearly 2.06 billion rials by the end of December, recording growth of 20.3 percent compared with around 1.71 billion rials in the same period a year earlier.
The UAE topped non-oil export destinations by the end of December, with shipments valued at more than 1.31 billion rials, up 25.3 percent compared with the same period in 2024. It also led re-export trade from Oman, with re-exports valued at 724 million rials, and remained the leading source of imports into Oman at more than 4.15 billion rials.
Saudi Arabia ranked second in non-oil exports at around 1.07 billion rials, followed by India at 699 million rials.
In re-exports, Iran came second at 365 million rials, followed by the UK at 207 million rials.
On the import side, China ranked second with nearly 1.94 billion rials, followed by India at 1.45 billion rials.
