RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, rose 22.1 percent year on year in January to SR32.57 billion ($8.68 billion), driven by trade with the UAE, India, and China, official data showed.
In its latest report, the General Authority for Statistics revealed that non-oil exports to the UAE stood at SR11.59 billion over the month, followed by India at SR2.68 billion, and China at SR2.42 billion.
The growth underscores Saudi Arabia’s accelerating push to expand this sector of its economy, with rising shipments of industrial goods and re-exports helping offset volatility in crude markets.
The uptick also reflects strengthening regional trade links and improved logistics capacity, as the Kingdom positions itself as a key export and re-export hub connecting Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
In its latest report, GASTAT said: “The ratio of non-oil exports (including re-exports) to imports increased in January 2026, reaching 40 percent compared with 34.9 percent in January 2025. This increase was driven by a 22.1 percent increase in non-oil exports, alongside a 6.5 percent increase in imports over the same period.”
Machinery, electrical equipment and parts led the non-oil export basket, making up 24.2 percent of outbound shipments and recording a 77.5 percent annual increase.
This was followed by products of the chemical industries, which represented 19.2 percent of total non-oil exports.
In January, Saudi Arabia’s overall merchandise exports stood at SR98.71 billion, representing a 1.4 percent increase compared to the same month of the previous year.
China was the main destination for Saudi Arabia’s merchandise exports, accounting for 15.1 percent of total exports in January, followed by the UAE at 12.9 percent and India at 9.8 percent.
Japan, South Korea, and Bahrain, as well as Singapore, Egypt, Malta, and the US, were also among the top 10 export destinations.
In January, the Kingdom’s imports stood at SR81.41 billion, representing a 6.5 percent year-on-year rise, while the merchandise trade surplus decreased by 17.5 percent during the same period.
China was Saudi Arabia’s largest source of imports, accounting for 31 percent of inbound shipments, followed by the UAE at 7.7 percent and the US at 6.9 percent.
India, Germany, and Italy, as well as Japan, Switzerland, France, and South Korea, were also among the top 10 import sources for the Kingdom.
King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam was the leading entry point for goods, handling 27.7 percent of imports in January.
Jeddah Islamic Port followed with 18.8 percent, ahead of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 15.8 percent and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 13.6 percent.
