Jeddah Islamic Port
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports declined by 9% year-on-year (YoY) to nearly SAR 71.6 billion in August 2026. 
Compared to June, merchandise imports rose 1%, or nearly SAR 418.1 million, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Machinery, mechanical appliances, electrical equipment and their parts topped imports in August, representing 26% or SAR 18.8 billion of the Kingdom’s total imports. Products of the chemical or allied industries followed, making up about 10%.
Imports by Category (SAR bln)
Category
Value
% of Total
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof
18.78
26.2%
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
6.87
9.6%
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
6.36
8.9%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
5.94
8.3%
Mineral Products
4.69
6.5%
Vegetable Products
3.89
5.4%
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
3.83
5.3%
Precious Stones or Metals and Their Articles, Jewelry
3.80
5.3%
Plastics and Articles Thereof; Rubber and Articles Thereof
2.94
4.1%
Animal Products
2.91
4.1%
Optical Instruments and Apparatus, and others
2.31
3.2%
Textile Materials and Products
1.97
2.7%
Art Collections and Antiquities
1.83
2.6%
Miscellaneous Products
1.29
1.8%
Others
4.22
5.9%
Total
71.64
100.0%
China ranked as the top exporter to Saudi Arabia, with imports valued at SAR 15.7 billion, accounting for 22% of total imports in August. The US and Egypt came in second and third with SAR 6 billion and SAR 4.2 billion, respectively
The top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia accounted for almost 61%, or SAR 43.9 billion, of total imports in August.
Top 10 Import Partners in August (SAR bln)
Country
Value
% of Total
China
15.70
21.9%
US
5.99
8.4%
Egypt
4.19
5.8%
Germany
3.33
4.7%
Switzerland
3.14
4.4%
Italy
2.95
4.1%
India
2.66
3.7%
Japan
2.00
2.8%
UAE
1.97
2.7%
France
1.96
2.7%
Other Countries
27.74
38.7%
Total
71.64
100.0%
Jeddah Islamic Port
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports declined by 9% year-on-year (YoY) to nearly SAR 71.6 billion in August 2026.
Compared to June, merchandise imports rose 1%, or nearly SAR 418.1 million, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Machinery, mechanical appliances, electrical equipment and their parts topped imports in August, representing 26% or SAR 18.8 billion of the Kingdom’s total imports. Products of the chemical or allied industries followed, making up about 10%.
Imports by Category (SAR bln)
Category
Value
% of Total
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof
18.78
26.2%
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
6.87
9.6%
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
6.36
8.9%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
5.94
8.3%
Mineral Products
4.69
6.5%
Vegetable Products
3.89
5.4%
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
3.83
5.3%
Precious Stones or Metals and Their Articles, Jewelry
3.80
5.3%
Plastics and Articles Thereof; Rubber and Articles Thereof
2.94
4.1%
Animal Products
2.91
4.1%
Optical Instruments and Apparatus, and others
2.31
3.2%
Textile Materials and Products
1.97
2.7%
Art Collections and Antiquities
1.83
2.6%
Miscellaneous Products
1.29
1.8%
Others
4.22
5.9%
Total
71.64
100.0%
China ranked as the top exporter to Saudi Arabia, with imports valued at SAR 15.7 billion, accounting for 22% of total imports in August. The US and Egypt came in second and third with SAR 6 billion and SAR 4.2 billion, respectively
The top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia accounted for almost 61%, or SAR 43.9 billion, of total imports in August.
Top 10 Import Partners in August (SAR bln)
Country
Value
% of Total
China
15.70
21.9%
US
5.99
8.4%
Egypt
4.19
5.8%
Germany
3.33
4.7%
Switzerland
3.14
4.4%
Italy
2.95
4.1%
India
2.66
3.7%
Japan
2.00
2.8%
UAE
1.97
2.7%
France
1.96
2.7%
Other Countries
27.74
38.7%
Total
71.64
100.0%
