RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, rose 18.9 percent in 2025, driven by a sharp increase in re-export activity that helped offset weaker domestic shipments, according to official figures.
Data released by the General Authority for Statistics showed non-oil exports reached SR366.08 billion ($97.04 billion) in 2025. While national non-oil exports excluding re-exports slipped 0.1 percent from a year earlier, the value of re-exported goods surged 64.4 percent.
The gains helped lift the ratio of non-oil exports to imports to 38.5 percent, up from 35.3 percent in 2024, as imports increased 8.8 percent during the same period.
The latest figures highlight the growing role of trade, logistics and re-export activities in Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy under Vision 2030, as the Kingdom seeks to reduce its dependence on crude oil revenues and position itself as a regional commercial hub.
“The ratio of non-oil exports (including re-exports) to imports increased in 2025, reaching 38.5 percent compared with 35.3 percent in 2024. This increase was driven by an 18.9 percent increase in non-oil exports, alongside an 8.8 percent increase in imports over the same period,” said GASTAT.
Chemical products were the largest non-oil export category, accounting for 22.5 percent of total non-oil exports and growing 4.7 percent year on year.
Machinery, electrical equipment, and parts followed closely at 22.4 percent of non-oil exports, posting an impressive 91.8 percent surge.
Overall merchandise exports grew modestly by 2.1 percent to SR1.16 trillion, even as oil exports declined by 4 percent.
Consequently, the share of oil in total exports fell from 73.1 percent in 2024 to 68.7 percent in 2025.
China solidified its position as Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, receiving 14.6 percent of the Kingdom’s merchandise exports.
China was followed by the UAE at 10 percent and India at 9.4 percent.
South Korea, Japan, the US, Egypt, Bahrain, Poland, and Malta were also among the top 10 export destinations.
According to GASTAT, imports increased by 8.8 percent year on year in 2025 to SR949.82 billion, while the merchandise trade surplus decreased by 19.2 percent during the same period.
“China ranked first as the Kingdom’s merchandise source, accounting for 27.5 percent of total imports in 2025, followed by the US at 8.2 percent and the UAE at 5.7 percent,” said GASTAT.
India, Germany, Japan, Italy, France, Switzerland, and Egypt were also among the top 10 import sources, with total imports from these 10 countries representing 65.9 percent of Saudi Arabia’s overall imports.
King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam was the leading entry point for goods into the Kingdom, accounting for 26.6 percent of total imports in 2025.
It was followed by Jeddah Islamic Seaport at 22.1 percent, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 13.8 percent, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 10.4 percent, and King Fahad International Airport in Dammam at 5.4 percent.
For non-oil exports, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah was the leading outlet, accounting for 14.2 percent of shipments, ahead of Jeddah Islamic Port at 11.7 percent and King Fahad Industrial Seaport in Jubail at 11.1 percent.
GASTAT said that King Abdulaziz International Airport was the primary outlet for Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports in 2025, accounting for 14.2 percent of total shipments.
The authority added that Jeddah Islamic Port accounted for 11.7 percent of non-oil exports, followed by King Fahad Industrial Seaport in Jubail at 11.1 percent, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 10.6 percent, and Jubail Seaport at 7.9 percent.
