Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports, including re-exports, increased by 18.1 per cent in December 2024 compared to the previous year. National non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, grew by 15.9 per cent, while re-exported goods surged by 23.4 per cent in the reporting period. Decline in Overall Merchandise Exports Despite the rise in non-oil exports, total merchandise exports fell by 2.8 per cent due to a 10 per cent drop in oil exports. As a result, the share of oil in total exports declined from 74.3 per cent in December 2023 to 68.8 per cent in December 2024. Imports Surge, Trade Surplus Contracts Imports rose by 27.1 per cent, leading to a 56.1 per cent decline in the trade surplus. The ratio of non-oil exports to imports fell to 37.3 per cent in December 2024, from 40.1 per cent in the same month a year earlier, as imports grew at a faster rate than exports. Top Export and Import Categories Chemical products and plastics remained the leading non-oil export categories, recording 13.8 per cent increase. Meanwhile, machinery and transport equipment topped the list of imports. China Leads as Saudi Arabia's Key Trading Partner China was Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner, accounting for 13 per cent of total exports and 23.5 per cent of imports. Other major export destinations included South Korea and Japan, while the US and the UAE ranked among the top import sources. Key Entry Points for Imports King Abdulaziz Sea Port in Dammam handled the highest share of imports at 27.8 per cent, followed by Jeddah Islamic Sea Port and King Khalid International Airport. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
