Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports increased 27% year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 79 billion in December 2024, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Meanwhile, merchandise imports rose 2%, or nearly SAR 1.9 billion, month-on-month (MoM).
The Kingdom’s December 2024 merchandise imports were the highest-ever by value, as per GASTAT data compiled since the start of 2017.
Machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment and their parts topped imports in December 2024, representing 25% (SAR 20.1 billion) of total imports. Vehicles, aircraft, vessels, and associated transport equipment followed at roughly 15%.
The table below details of Saudi imports in December 2024 by segment:
Saudi Imports Value in December 2024 (SAR bln)
Segment
Dec. 2023
Dec. 2024
Change (Value)
Change (%)
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof
13.99
20.14
6.15
+44%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
10.82
11.73
+0.91
+8%
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
5.99
7.31
+1.31
+22%
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
4.83
6.69
+1.85
+38%
Precious Stones or Metals and Their Articles, Jewelry
2.23
4.56
+2.33
+104%
Mineral products
5.02
4.32
(0.69)
(14%)
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
2.75
3.37
+0.62
+23%
Vegetable Products
2.76
3.01
+0.25
+9%
Art Collections and Antiquities
1.32
2.69
+1.37
+104%
Plastics and Articles Thereof; Rubber and Articles Thereof
1.86
2.61
+0.75
+40%
Others
10.63
12.61
+1.98
+19%
Total
62.20
79.04
16.84
+27%
Saudi Arabia’s imports came mainly from China in December 2024, at SAR 18.6 billion (24%) of the total. The US came in second with SAR 7.2 billion, followed by the UAE (SAR 4.3 billion).
The top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia accounted for almost 67% (SAR 52.6 billion) of total imports for the same month, as shown below:
Top 10 Exporters to Saudi Arabia in December 2024 (SAR mln)
Country
Value
% of Total
China
18.60
23.5
US
7.18
9.1
UAE
4.30
5.4
India
3.81
4.8
Germany
3.75
4.7
Japan
3.61
4.6
Italy
3.20
4.0
UK
3.03
3.8
Switzerland
2.87
3.6
Egypt
2.28
2.9
Other Countries
26.40
33.4
Total
79.04
100.0
Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports increased 27% year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 79 billion in December 2024, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Meanwhile, merchandise imports rose 2%, or nearly SAR 1.9 billion, month-on-month (MoM).
The Kingdom’s December 2024 merchandise imports were the highest-ever by value, as per GASTAT data compiled since the start of 2017.
Machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment and their parts topped imports in December 2024, representing 25% (SAR 20.1 billion) of total imports. Vehicles, aircraft, vessels, and associated transport equipment followed at roughly 15%.
The table below details of Saudi imports in December 2024 by segment:
Saudi Imports Value in December 2024 (SAR bln)
Segment
Dec. 2023
Dec. 2024
Change (Value)
Change (%)
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof
13.99
20.14
6.15
+44%
Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment
10.82
11.73
+0.91
+8%
Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
5.99
7.31
+1.31
+22%
Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
4.83
6.69
+1.85
+38%
Precious Stones or Metals and Their Articles, Jewelry
2.23
4.56
+2.33
+104%
Mineral products
5.02
4.32
(0.69)
(14%)
Food Products, Beverages, and Tobacco
2.75
3.37
+0.62
+23%
Vegetable Products
2.76
3.01
+0.25
+9%
Art Collections and Antiquities
1.32
2.69
+1.37
+104%
Plastics and Articles Thereof; Rubber and Articles Thereof
1.86
2.61
+0.75
+40%
Others
10.63
12.61
+1.98
+19%
Total
62.20
79.04
16.84
+27%
Saudi Arabia’s imports came mainly from China in December 2024, at SAR 18.6 billion (24%) of the total. The US came in second with SAR 7.2 billion, followed by the UAE (SAR 4.3 billion).
The top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia accounted for almost 67% (SAR 52.6 billion) of total imports for the same month, as shown below:
Top 10 Exporters to Saudi Arabia in December 2024 (SAR mln)
Country
Value
% of Total
China
18.60
23.5
US
7.18
9.1
UAE
4.30
5.4
India
3.81
4.8
Germany
3.75
4.7
Japan
3.61
4.6
Italy
3.20
4.0
UK
3.03
3.8
Switzerland
2.87
3.6
Egypt
2.28
2.9
Other Countries
26.40
33.4
Total
79.04
100.0
