A view of the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports retreated by 1% year-on-year (YoY) to almost SAR 222.3 billion in Q1 2026, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). 
Compared to Q4 2025, merchandise imports were down 11%, or nearly SAR 27.1 billion.
The most imported goods during the quarter were machinery, electrical equipment, and their parts, representing 30% of total imports, as well as transport equipment (vehicles, aircraft, and ships), accounting for 11%.
Imports by Category (SAR bln)
Category
Q1 2025
Q1 2026
Change (Value)
Change (%)
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof
57.88
67.79
+9.90
+ 17%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
31.26
24.33
(6.93)
(22%)
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
22.31
20.27
(2.04)
(9%)
Precious Stones or Metals and Their Articles, Jewelry
8.85
18.48
+9.64
+ 109%
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
19.69
18.21
(1.48)
(8%)
Vegetable Products
11.17
10.06
(1.12)
(10%)
Mineral products
12.18
9.36
(2.82)
(23%)
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
10.49
8.33
(2.16)
(21%)
Textile Materials and Products
7.03
6.54
(0.49)
(7%)
Animal Products
6.96
6.21
(0.75)
(11%)
Optical Instruments and Apparatus, and others
6.29
5.97
(0.31)
(5%)
Plastics and Articles Thereof; Rubber and Articles Thereof
7.42
5.70
(1.72)
(23%)
Art Collections and Antiquities
6.47
5.03
(1.44)
(22%)
Miscellaneous Products
4.63
3.99
(0.64)
(14%)
Arms and Ammunition, and Parts and Accessories thereof
1.40
2.63
+1.23
+ 88%
Animal or Vegetable Fats, Oils, and Waxes, and Related Products
1.80
2.01
+0.21
+ 12%
Articles of Stone, Plaster, Cement, and Related Materials
2.49
1.88
(0.61)
(24%)
Paper, Paperboard, and Articles Thereof
2.02
1.85
(0.16)
(8%)
Wood, Cork, Basketware, and Other Woven Products
2.10
1.54
(0.55)
(26%)
Footwear, Headgear, Umbrellas, and Walking Sticks
1.43
1.46
+0.03
+ 2%
Raw Hides and Skins, Leather and Articles thereof
0.73
0.65
(0.08)
(11%)
Total
224.61
222.32
(2.29)
(1%)
China ranked as the top exporter to Saudi Arabia, with imports valued at SAR 65.8 billion, accounting for 30% of total imports in Q1 2026.
The US and the UAE came in second and third, at 8% and 7%, respectively.
Top 10 Import Partners in Q1 2026 (SAR bln)
Country
Value
% to Total
China
65.8
29.6%
US
17.1
7.7%
UAE
16.5
7.4%
India
11.0
4.9%
Switzerland
9.0
4.0%
Germany
8.4
3.8%
Japan
7.4
3.3%
Italy
7.2
3.2%
Egypt
6.3
2.8%
France
6.2
2.8%
Other Countries
67.6
30.4%
Total
222.3
100.0%
A view of the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports retreated by 1% year-on-year (YoY) to almost SAR 222.3 billion in Q1 2026, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Compared to Q4 2025, merchandise imports were down 11%, or nearly SAR 27.1 billion.
The most imported goods during the quarter were machinery, electrical equipment, and their parts, representing 30% of total imports, as well as transport equipment (vehicles, aircraft, and ships), accounting for 11%.
Imports by Category (SAR bln)
Category
Q1 2025
Q1 2026
Change (Value)
Change (%)
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof
57.88
67.79
+9.90
+ 17%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
31.26
24.33
(6.93)
(22%)
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
22.31
20.27
(2.04)
(9%)
Precious Stones or Metals and Their Articles, Jewelry
8.85
18.48
+9.64
+ 109%
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
19.69
18.21
(1.48)
(8%)
Vegetable Products
11.17
10.06
(1.12)
(10%)
Mineral products
12.18
9.36
(2.82)
(23%)
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
10.49
8.33
(2.16)
(21%)
Textile Materials and Products
7.03
6.54
(0.49)
(7%)
Animal Products
6.96
6.21
(0.75)
(11%)
Optical Instruments and Apparatus, and others
6.29
5.97
(0.31)
(5%)
Plastics and Articles Thereof; Rubber and Articles Thereof
7.42
5.70
(1.72)
(23%)
Art Collections and Antiquities
6.47
5.03
(1.44)
(22%)
Miscellaneous Products
4.63
3.99
(0.64)
(14%)
Arms and Ammunition, and Parts and Accessories thereof
1.40
2.63
+1.23
+ 88%
Animal or Vegetable Fats, Oils, and Waxes, and Related Products
1.80
2.01
+0.21
+ 12%
Articles of Stone, Plaster, Cement, and Related Materials
2.49
1.88
(0.61)
(24%)
Paper, Paperboard, and Articles Thereof
2.02
1.85
(0.16)
(8%)
Wood, Cork, Basketware, and Other Woven Products
2.10
1.54
(0.55)
(26%)
Footwear, Headgear, Umbrellas, and Walking Sticks
1.43
1.46
+0.03
+ 2%
Raw Hides and Skins, Leather and Articles thereof
0.73
0.65
(0.08)
(11%)
Total
224.61
222.32
(2.29)
(1%)
China ranked as the top exporter to Saudi Arabia, with imports valued at SAR 65.8 billion, accounting for 30% of total imports in Q1 2026.
The US and the UAE came in second and third, at 8% and 7%, respectively.
Top 10 Import Partners in Q1 2026 (SAR bln)
Country
Value
% to Total
China
65.8
29.6%
US
17.1
7.7%
UAE
16.5
7.4%
India
11.0
4.9%
Switzerland
9.0
4.0%
Germany
8.4
3.8%
Japan
7.4
3.3%
Italy
7.2
3.2%
Egypt
6.3
2.8%
France
6.2
2.8%
Other Countries
67.6
30.4%
Total
222.3
100.0%
