Jeddah Islamic Port
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports declined by 20% year-on-year (YoY) to nearly SAR 67.8 billion in May 2026. 
Compared to April, merchandise imports fell 14%, or nearly SAR 11 billion, according to GASTAT.
Machinery, mechanical appliances, electrical equipment and their parts topped imports in May, representing 26% or SAR 17.9 billion of the Kingdom’s total imports. Mineral products followed, making up about 12%.
The table below shows details of Saudi imports in May by segment:
Saudi Imports in May by Segment (SAR bln)
Segment
Value
% of Total
Machinery, MechanicalAppliances, ElectricalEquipment, Their Parts
17.87
26.4%
Mineral Products
8.08
11.9%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
6.85
10.1%
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
5.95
8.8%
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
5.29
7.8%
Precious Stones, Metals, TheirArticles, Jewelry
4.20
6.2%
Vegetable Products
2.82
4.2%
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
2.64
3.9%
Animal Products
2.44
3.6%
Plastics, Rubber and Their Articles
2.12
3.1%
Optical Instruments and Apparatus
2.03
3.0%
Art Collections and Antiquities
1.83
2.7%
Textile Materials and Products
1.61
2.4%
Miscellaneous Products
0.93
1.4%
Others
3.10
4.6%
Total
67.76
100.0%
Saudi Arabia’s imports came mainly from China, reaching SAR 14.9 billion and accounting for 22% of the total in May. The US came in second with SAR 7.22 billion, followed by Egypt at SAR 5.67 billion.
The top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia accounted for almost 69%, or SAR 46.7 billion, of total imports in the same month.
Top 10 Exporters to Saudi Arabia in May (SAR bln)
Country
Value
% of Total
China
14.92
22.0%
US
7.22
10.7%
Egypt
5.67
8.4%
UAE
5.24
7.7%
India
3.10
4.6%
Germany
2.75
4.1%
Switzerland
2.30
3.4%
Italy
2.24
3.3%
France
1.66
2.5%
Russian Federation
1.59
2.3%
Other Countries
21.06
31.1%
Total
67.76
100.0%
Jeddah Islamic Port
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports declined by 20% year-on-year (YoY) to nearly SAR 67.8 billion in May 2026.
Compared to April, merchandise imports fell 14%, or nearly SAR 11 billion, according to GASTAT.
Machinery, mechanical appliances, electrical equipment and their parts topped imports in May, representing 26% or SAR 17.9 billion of the Kingdom’s total imports. Mineral products followed, making up about 12%.
The table below shows details of Saudi imports in May by segment:
Saudi Imports in May by Segment (SAR bln)
Segment
Value
% of Total
Machinery, MechanicalAppliances, ElectricalEquipment, Their Parts
17.87
26.4%
Mineral Products
8.08
11.9%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
6.85
10.1%
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
5.95
8.8%
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
5.29
7.8%
Precious Stones, Metals, TheirArticles, Jewelry
4.20
6.2%
Vegetable Products
2.82
4.2%
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
2.64
3.9%
Animal Products
2.44
3.6%
Plastics, Rubber and Their Articles
2.12
3.1%
Optical Instruments and Apparatus
2.03
3.0%
Art Collections and Antiquities
1.83
2.7%
Textile Materials and Products
1.61
2.4%
Miscellaneous Products
0.93
1.4%
Others
3.10
4.6%
Total
67.76
100.0%
Saudi Arabia’s imports came mainly from China, reaching SAR 14.9 billion and accounting for 22% of the total in May. The US came in second with SAR 7.22 billion, followed by Egypt at SAR 5.67 billion.
The top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia accounted for almost 69%, or SAR 46.7 billion, of total imports in the same month.
Top 10 Exporters to Saudi Arabia in May (SAR bln)
Country
Value
% of Total
China
14.92
22.0%
US
7.22
10.7%
Egypt
5.67
8.4%
UAE
5.24
7.7%
India
3.10
4.6%
Germany
2.75
4.1%
Switzerland
2.30
3.4%
Italy
2.24
3.3%
France
1.66
2.5%
Russian Federation
1.59
2.3%
Other Countries
21.06
31.1%
Total
67.76
100.0%
