Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports increased 8% year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 72.6 billion in January, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Meanwhile, merchandise imports fell by 8%, or nearly SAR 6.4 billion, month-on-month (MoM).
Machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment and their parts topped imports in January, representing 26% (SAR 18.8 billion) of total imports. Vehicles, aircraft, vessels, and associated transport equipment followed at roughly 14%.
The table below details of Saudi imports in January 2025 by segment:
Saudi Imports Value in January by Segment (SAR bln)
Segment
Jan. 2024
Jan. 2025
Change (Value)
Change (%)
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof
14.77
18.81
+4.04
+27%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
9.08
10.02
+0.94
+10%
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
6.30
6.54
+0.24
+4%
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
6.19
6.15
(0.03)
(1%)
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
3.34
3.98
+0.64
+19%
Mineral products
5.51
3.59
(1.93)
(35%)
Vegetable Products
3.21
3.26
+0.04
+1%
Precious Stones or Metals and Their Articles, Jewelry
3.93
2.83
(1.10)
(28%)
Textile materials and their products
2.05
2.40
+0.35
+17%
Animals and animal products
2.34
2.36
+0.02
+1%
Others
10.32
12.69
+2.37
+23%
Total
67.04
72.62
+5.59
+8%
Saudi Arabia’s imports came mainly from China in January 2025, at SAR 19.2 billion (26%) of the total. The US came in second with SAR 6.04 billion, followed by the UAE (SAR 3.96 billion).
The top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia accounted for almost 65% (SAR 46.9 billion) of total imports for the same month,as shown below:
Top 10 Exporters to Saudi Arabia in January (SAR bln)
Country
Value
% of Total
China
19.17
26.4%
US
6.04
8.3%
UAE
3.96
5.5%
India
3.80
5.2%
Germany
3.01
4.1%
Egypt
2.48
3.4%
Japan
2.45
3.4%
Italy
2.41
3.3%
France
1.85
2.6%
Brazil
1.77
2.4%
Other Countries
25.67
35.4%
Total
72.62
100.0
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports increased 8% year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 72.6 billion in January, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Meanwhile, merchandise imports fell by 8%, or nearly SAR 6.4 billion, month-on-month (MoM).
Machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment and their parts topped imports in January, representing 26% (SAR 18.8 billion) of total imports. Vehicles, aircraft, vessels, and associated transport equipment followed at roughly 14%.
The table below details of Saudi imports in January 2025 by segment:
Saudi Imports Value in January by Segment (SAR bln)
Segment
Jan. 2024
Jan. 2025
Change (Value)
Change (%)
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof
14.77
18.81
+4.04
+27%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
9.08
10.02
+0.94
+10%
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
6.30
6.54
+0.24
+4%
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
6.19
6.15
(0.03)
(1%)
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
3.34
3.98
+0.64
+19%
Mineral products
5.51
3.59
(1.93)
(35%)
Vegetable Products
3.21
3.26
+0.04
+1%
Precious Stones or Metals and Their Articles, Jewelry
3.93
2.83
(1.10)
(28%)
Textile materials and their products
2.05
2.40
+0.35
+17%
Animals and animal products
2.34
2.36
+0.02
+1%
Others
10.32
12.69
+2.37
+23%
Total
67.04
72.62
+5.59
+8%
Saudi Arabia’s imports came mainly from China in January 2025, at SAR 19.2 billion (26%) of the total. The US came in second with SAR 6.04 billion, followed by the UAE (SAR 3.96 billion).
The top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia accounted for almost 65% (SAR 46.9 billion) of total imports for the same month,as shown below:
Top 10 Exporters to Saudi Arabia in January (SAR bln)
Country
Value
% of Total
China
19.17
26.4%
US
6.04
8.3%
UAE
3.96
5.5%
India
3.80
5.2%
Germany
3.01
4.1%
Egypt
2.48
3.4%
Japan
2.45
3.4%
Italy
2.41
3.3%
France
1.85
2.6%
Brazil
1.77
2.4%
Other Countries
25.67
35.4%
Total
72.62
100.0
