Saudi Trade Surplus Jumps 70.2% on Export Growth, Lower Imports

Saudi Arabia’s merchandise trade surplus surged 70.2% year on year in November 2025, buoyed by a strong rise in exports, particularly non-oil shipments, and a slight decline in imports, according to newly released data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

In its report published on Sunday, GASTAT said non-oil exports, including re-exports, climbed 20.7% compared with November 2024, while national non-oil exports excluding re-exports rose 4.7%. The improvement in export performance, combined with a 0.2% drop in imports, translated into a markedly stronger trade balance.

Total merchandise exports grew by around 10% in November compared with a year earlier, supported by gains in both oil and non-oil shipments. Oil exports increased 5.4% year on year, though their share of total exports edged down to 67.2%, from 70.1% a year earlier, signaling gradual progress toward export diversification.

Re-exported goods recorded a sharp 53.1% annual increase, largely driven by a surge in exports of machinery, electrical equipment, and parts, which jumped 81.9% and accounted for 51.5% of total re-exports.

As a result, the ratio of non-oil exports (including re-exports) to imports rose to 42.2% in November 2025, up from 34.9% a year earlier.

Machinery, electrical equipment, and parts remained the leading non-oil export category, representing 24.2% of total non-oil exports and posting an 81.5% annual increase. Chemical products ranked second, accounting for 20.3% of non-oil exports, with a modest 0.5% year-on-year rise.

On the import side, machinery and electrical equipment were also the largest category, making up 30.7% of total imports and increasing 8.6% annually. Transport equipment and parts followed, accounting for 14.4% of imports, up 2.2% year on year.

China remained Saudi Arabia’s top destination for merchandise exports in November, absorbing 13.5% of the total, followed by the UAE (11.7%) and Japan (9.9%). Combined exports to the top ten destination countries accounted for 71.4% of total Saudi exports.

China also ranked first among the Kingdom’s import partners, supplying 26.7% of total imports, ahead of the United States (10.2%) and the UAE (6.2%). The top ten supplier countries together accounted for 68.6% of Saudi imports.

The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam was the Kingdom’s largest entry point for imports, handling 22.8% of total inbound goods, narrowly ahead of Jeddah Islamic Port (22.6%). Five key ports and airports together accounted for 80% of total merchandise imports.

For non-oil exports, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah led all outlets, handling 17.2% of shipments, followed by Jeddah Islamic Port and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.