Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports retreated by 5% year-on-year (YoY) to almost SAR 224.5 billion in Q2 2026, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Compared to Q1 2026, merchandise imports were down by nearly SAR 3.6 billion.
The most imported goods during the quarter were machinery, electrical equipment, and their parts, representing 29% of total imports, as well as transport equipment (vehicles, aircraft, and ships), accounting for 10%.
Imports by Category (SAR bln)
Category
Q2 2025
Q2 2026
Change (Value)
Change (%)
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof
68.15
64.46
(3.69)
(5%)
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
31.61
22.04
(9.57)
(30%)
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
21.04
20.79
(0.25)
(1%)
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
21.31
18.12
(3.19)
(15%)
Precious Stones or Metals and Their Articles, Jewelry
9.80
17.88
+8.08
82%
Mineral products
12.82
17.84
+5.02
39%
Vegetable Products
11.41
10.35
(1.06)
(9%)
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
9.98
9.49
(0.49)
(5%)
Plastics and Articles Thereof; Rubber and Articles Thereof
7.82
7.04
(0.78)
(10%)
Animal Products
7.48
7.00
(0.48)
(6%)
Others
34.23
29.45
(4.78)
(14%)
Total
235.75
224.46
(12.29)
(5%)
China ranked as the top exporter to Saudi Arabia, with imports valued at SAR 57.1 billion, accounting for more than 25% of total imports in Q2 2026.
The US and the UAE came in second and third, at 9% and 7%, respectively.
Top 10 Import Partners in Q2 2026 (SAR bln)
Country
Value
% to Total
China
57.1
25.4%
US
19.3
8.6%
UAE
14.5
6.5%
Egypt
12.6
5.6%
Switzerland
11.6
5.2%
India
9.7
4.3%
Germany
9.6
4.3%
Italy
7.1
3.2%
France
6.2
2.8%
Japan
6.1
2.7%
Other Countries
70.7
31.5%
Total
224.5
100.0%
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports retreated by 5% year-on-year (YoY) to almost SAR 224.5 billion in Q2 2026, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Compared to Q1 2026, merchandise imports were down by nearly SAR 3.6 billion.
The most imported goods during the quarter were machinery, electrical equipment, and their parts, representing 29% of total imports, as well as transport equipment (vehicles, aircraft, and ships), accounting for 10%.
Imports by Category (SAR bln)
Category
Q2 2025
Q2 2026
Change (Value)
Change (%)
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof
68.15
64.46
(3.69)
(5%)
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
31.61
22.04
(9.57)
(30%)
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
21.04
20.79
(0.25)
(1%)
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
21.31
18.12
(3.19)
(15%)
Precious Stones or Metals and Their Articles, Jewelry
9.80
17.88
+8.08
82%
Mineral products
12.82
17.84
+5.02
39%
Vegetable Products
11.41
10.35
(1.06)
(9%)
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
9.98
9.49
(0.49)
(5%)
Plastics and Articles Thereof; Rubber and Articles Thereof
7.82
7.04
(0.78)
(10%)
Animal Products
7.48
7.00
(0.48)
(6%)
Others
34.23
29.45
(4.78)
(14%)
Total
235.75
224.46
(12.29)
(5%)
China ranked as the top exporter to Saudi Arabia, with imports valued at SAR 57.1 billion, accounting for more than 25% of total imports in Q2 2026.
The US and the UAE came in second and third, at 9% and 7%, respectively.
Top 10 Import Partners in Q2 2026 (SAR bln)
Country
Value
% to Total
China
57.1
25.4%
US
19.3
8.6%
UAE
14.5
6.5%
Egypt
12.6
5.6%
Switzerland
11.6
5.2%
India
9.7
4.3%
Germany
9.6
4.3%
Italy
7.1
3.2%
France
6.2
2.8%
Japan
6.1
2.7%
Other Countries
70.7
31.5%
Total
224.5
100.0%
