Saudi Arabia non-oil exports hit record high, driven by machinery and electrical parts

Figures released by the General Authority for Statistics showed an 18.6 percent growth year on year. Shutterstock
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Updated 25 February 2026
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Saudi Arabia non-oil exports hit record high, driven by machinery and electrical parts

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports have surged to their highest quarterly level on record, reaching SR97.5 billion ($25.9 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to official data.

Figures released by the General Authority for Statistics showed a 114 percent increase compared to the first quarter of 2017 when it began publishing such data, and an 18.6 percent growth year on year.

The machinery, electrical equipment and parts sector emerged as the top performer in the final three months of 2025, accounting for 23.2 percent of total non-oil exports and a 78.6 percent increase year on year. 

The rise in non-oil exports underscores progress under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program, which aims to diversify the economy by reducing reliance on crude oil revenues and increase the contribution of non-oil exports to non-oil gross domestic product to 50 percent by 2030.

GASTAT’s data showed that the Kingdom’s ratio of non-oil exports to imports increased to 39.4 percent in the final quarter of 2025, up from 34.8 percent a year earlier.

Chemical products, the second-largest non-oil export category, saw a decline of 6.9 percent in the final quarter of 2025 compared to the prior-year quarter, and a 13 percent drop in December versus a year earlier.

While total merchandise exports increased by 7.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, oil exports grew at a slower pace of 3.5 percent. 

As a result, oil’s share of total exports fell to 67.5 percent, down from 70.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, re-exports surged by 67.4 percent during the quarter, with machinery and electrical equipment making up nearly half of that total.

The Kingdom’s merchandise trade surplus expanded by 26.3 percent in the last three months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, supported by a 4.7 percent increase in imports. In December alone, the trade surplus rose by 7.1 percent year on year.

China continued to be Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner in both exports and imports. 

In the last quarter of 2025, China accounted for 13.1 percent of total Saudi exports and 27.2 percent of imports. Japan followed as the second-largest export destination in December, narrowly edging out China with an 11.7 percent share.

Other key export destinations included the UAE, India, South Korea, and the US. On the import side, the US and the UAE ranked second and third, respectively.

King Abdulaziz Seaport in Dammam remained the Kingdom’s primary gateway for imports, handling 25.1 percent of all inbound goods in the last quarter of 2025. For non-oil exports, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah was the leading outlet, accounting for 16 percent of the total.


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.