Jeddah Islamic Port
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports increased 11% year-on-year (YoY) in Q3 2024 to SAR 217.3 billion, hitting a record high since 2017, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). 
Meanwhile, merchandise imports rose 4%, or nearly SAR 9 billion, compared to Q2 2024.
The following table illustrates the Saudi merchandise imports since 2017:
Saudi Merchandise ImportsSince 2017
Period
Value (SAR bln)
Change YoY
Q1 2017
125.72
—
Q2
126.71
—
Q3
123.85
—
Q4
128.16
—
Q1 2018
126.06
+0.3%
Q2
133.02
+5%
Q3
128.02
+3%
Q4
126.90
(1%)
Q1 2019
132.19
+5%
Q2
151.82
+14%
Q3
145.45
+14%
Q4
144.90
+14%
Q1 2020
132.38
+0.1%
Q2
124.85
(18%)
Q3
123.03
(15%)
Q4
137.23
(5%)
Q1 2021
139.39
+5%
Q2
140.42
+12%
Q3
144.76
+18%
Q4
148.61
+8%
Q1 2022
157.90
+13%
Q2
175.35
+25%
Q3
182.81
+26%
Q4
195.97
+32%
Q1 2023
188.95
+20%
Q2
190.35
+9%
Q3
194.99
+7%
Q4
201.73
+3%
Q1 2024
207.77
+10%
Q2
208.29
+9%
Q3
217.25
+11%
Machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment, and parts thereof dominated 26% of total imports. Vehicles, aircraft, vessels, and associated transport equipment came in second with 15%.
The following table illustrates Saudi merchandise in Q3 2024 by segment:
Saudi Imports Value in Q3 2024 (SAR bln)
Segment
Q3 2023
Q3 2024
Change
Change (%)
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment and Parts Thereof
43.95
57.48
+13.53
+31%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels and Associated Transport Equipment
29.83
32.52
+2.69
+9%
Products of Chemical or Allied Industries
17.80
21.29
+3.50
+20%
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metals
17.29
21.23
+3.94
+23%
Mineral Products
14.95
12.85
(2.09)
(14%)
Vegetable Products
9.65
9.61
(0.04)
(0.4%)
Food Industry Products, Beverages, Alcoholic Liquids and Vinegar, Tobacco and Manufactured Tobacco Substitutes
8.78
9.43
+0.65
+7%
Plastics, Rubber and Their Products
6.89
8.04
+1.15
+17%
Live Animals and Animal Products
6.02
6.42
+0.40
+7%
Optical Instruments and Photography Devices
5.94
6.11
+0.17
+3%
Others
33.90
32.27
(1.62)
(5%)
Total
194.99
217.25
+22.27
+11%
China topped the Kingdom’s list of exporting countries with SAR 53.8 billion, accounting for 25% of total imports in Q3 2024. The US and India followed, at 8% and 5%, respectively. UAE retreated to the fifth rank at 4%.
Top 10 Exporters to Saudi Arabia in Q3 2024 (SAR bln)
Countries
Value
% of Total
China
53.8
24.8%
US
17.6
8.1%
India
11.0
5.1%
Germany
10.4
4.8%
UAE
9.7
4.5%
Italy
7.8
3.6%
Japan
7.5
3.5%
Egypt
6.2
2.8%
South Korea
5.6
2.6%
UK
5.1
2.4%
Other Countries
82.5
38.0%
Total
217.3
100.0%
Jeddah Islamic Port
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports increased 11% year-on-year (YoY) in Q3 2024 to SAR 217.3 billion, hitting a record high since 2017, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Meanwhile, merchandise imports rose 4%, or nearly SAR 9 billion, compared to Q2 2024.
The following table illustrates the Saudi merchandise imports since 2017:
Saudi Merchandise ImportsSince 2017
Period
Value (SAR bln)
Change YoY
Q1 2017
125.72
—
Q2
126.71
—
Q3
123.85
—
Q4
128.16
—
Q1 2018
126.06
+0.3%
Q2
133.02
+5%
Q3
128.02
+3%
Q4
126.90
(1%)
Q1 2019
132.19
+5%
Q2
151.82
+14%
Q3
145.45
+14%
Q4
144.90
+14%
Q1 2020
132.38
+0.1%
Q2
124.85
(18%)
Q3
123.03
(15%)
Q4
137.23
(5%)
Q1 2021
139.39
+5%
Q2
140.42
+12%
Q3
144.76
+18%
Q4
148.61
+8%
Q1 2022
157.90
+13%
Q2
175.35
+25%
Q3
182.81
+26%
Q4
195.97
+32%
Q1 2023
188.95
+20%
Q2
190.35
+9%
Q3
194.99
+7%
Q4
201.73
+3%
Q1 2024
207.77
+10%
Q2
208.29
+9%
Q3
217.25
+11%
Machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment, and parts thereof dominated 26% of total imports. Vehicles, aircraft, vessels, and associated transport equipment came in second with 15%.
The following table illustrates Saudi merchandise in Q3 2024 by segment:
Saudi Imports Value in Q3 2024 (SAR bln)
Segment
Q3 2023
Q3 2024
Change
Change (%)
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment and Parts Thereof
43.95
57.48
+13.53
+31%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels and Associated Transport Equipment
29.83
32.52
+2.69
+9%
Products of Chemical or Allied Industries
17.80
21.29
+3.50
+20%
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metals
17.29
21.23
+3.94
+23%
Mineral Products
14.95
12.85
(2.09)
(14%)
Vegetable Products
9.65
9.61
(0.04)
(0.4%)
Food Industry Products, Beverages, Alcoholic Liquids and Vinegar, Tobacco and Manufactured Tobacco Substitutes
8.78
9.43
+0.65
+7%
Plastics, Rubber and Their Products
6.89
8.04
+1.15
+17%
Live Animals and Animal Products
6.02
6.42
+0.40
+7%
Optical Instruments and Photography Devices
5.94
6.11
+0.17
+3%
Others
33.90
32.27
(1.62)
(5%)
Total
194.99
217.25
+22.27
+11%
China topped the Kingdom’s list of exporting countries with SAR 53.8 billion, accounting for 25% of total imports in Q3 2024. The US and India followed, at 8% and 5%, respectively. UAE retreated to the fifth rank at 4%.
Top 10 Exporters to Saudi Arabia in Q3 2024 (SAR bln)
Countries
Value
% of Total
China
53.8
24.8%
US
17.6
8.1%
India
11.0
5.1%
Germany
10.4
4.8%
UAE
9.7
4.5%
Italy
7.8
3.6%
Japan
7.5
3.5%
Egypt
6.2
2.8%
South Korea
5.6
2.6%
UK
5.1
2.4%
Other Countries
82.5
38.0%
Total
217.3
100.0%
