Saudi mining and quarrying activity surges 19 percent in July

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s mining and quarrying activity rose by 19 percent in July 2026 compared with June, contributing to a 10.4 percent monthly increase in the Kingdom’s overall Industrial Production Index (IPI). According to preliminary data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), manufacturing also increased by 1.3 percent month-on-month, driven by a 6.5 percent rise in the production of coke and refined petroleum products. Oil activities recorded a strong monthly increase of 16.3 percent, while non-oil activities declined by 0.2 percent compared with June. Electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply rose by 5.4 percent month-on-month, while water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities increased by 2.6 percent. On an annual basis, however, the overall Industrial Production Index declined by 8.1 percent compared with July 2025, driven by decreases in mining and quarrying and manufacturing. Mining and quarrying fell by 10.9 percent year-on-year, while manufacturing declined by 5.8 percent. Within manufacturing, the production of refined petroleum products decreased by 13.6 percent, while chemicals and chemical products fell by 4 percent. Oil activities declined by 11.4 percent year-on-year, while non-oil activities edged down by 0.3 percent. In contrast, electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply increased by 4.5 percent year-on-year, while water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities rose by 7.8 percent.