Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports increased 27% year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 79 billion in December 2024, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Meanwhile, merchandise imports rose 2%, or nearly SAR 1.9 billion, month-on-month (MoM).
The Kingdom's December 2024 merchandise imports were the highest-ever by value, as per GASTAT data compiled since the start of 2017.
Machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment and their parts topped imports in December 2024, representing 25% (SAR 20.1 billion) of total imports. Vehicles, aircraft, vessels, and associated transport equipment followed at roughly 15%.
The table below details of Saudi imports in December 2024 by segment:
|
Saudi Imports Value in December 2024 (SAR bln) |
||||
|
Segment |
Dec. 2023 |
Dec. 2024 |
Change (Value) |
Change (%) |
|
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof |
13.99 |
20.14 |
6.15 |
+44% |
|
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment |
10.82 |
11.73 |
+0.91 |
+8 % |
|
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal |
5.99 |
7.31 |
+1.31 |
+22 % |
|
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries |
4.83 |
6.69 |
+1.85 |
+38% |
|
Precious Stones or Metals and Their Articles, Jewelry |
2.23 |
4.56 |
+2.33 |
+104% |
|
Mineral products |
5.02 |
4.32 |
(0.69) |
(14%) |
|
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco |
2.75 |
3.37 |
+0.62 |
+23% |
|
Vegetable Products |
2.76 |
3.01 |
+0.25 |
+9% |
|
Art Collections and Antiquities |
1.32 |
2.69 |
+1.37 |
+104% |
|
Plastics and Articles Thereof; Rubber and Articles Thereof |
1.86 |
2.61 |
+0.75 |
+40 % |
|
Others |
10.63 |
12.61 |
+1.98 |
+19% |
|
Total |
62.20 |
79.04 |
16.84 |
+27% |
Saudi Arabia’s imports came mainly from China in December 2024, at SAR 18.6 billion (24%) of the total. The US came in second with SAR 7.2 billion, followed by the UAE (SAR 4.3 billion).
The top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia accounted for almost 67% (SAR 52.6 billion) of total imports for the same month, as shown below:
|
Top 10 Exporters to Saudi Arabia in December 2024 (SAR mln) |
||
|
Country |
Value |
% of Total |
|
China |
18.60 |
23.5 |
|
US |
7.18 |
9.1 |
|
UAE |
4.30 |
5.4 |
|
India |
3.81 |
4.8 |
|
Germany |
3.75 |
4.7 |
|
Japan |
3.61 |
4.6 |
|
Italy |
3.20 |
4.0 |
|
UK |
3.03 |
3.8 |
|
Switzerland |
2.87 |
3.6 |
|
Egypt |
2.28 |
2.9 |
|
Other Countries |
26.40 |
33.4 |
|
Total |
79.04 |
100.0 |
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