RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s trade surplus more than doubled to SR25.43 billion ($6.79 billion) in April as rising oil exports and lower imports strengthened the Kingdom’s external balance, official data showed.
The surplus increased 100.8 percent from a year earlier, according to preliminary data released by the General Authority for Statistics. Merchandise exports rose 9.3 percent year on year to SR101.17 billion, while imports fell 5.2 percent to SR75.74 billion.
The increase was driven largely by stronger oil shipments, with exports in this area rising 11.7 percent compared with April 2025. Oil accounted for 68.8 percent of total exports during the month, up from 67.4 percent a year earlier.
The trade performance also reflected growth in non-oil exports and lower imports, underscoring the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to diversify its economy under Vision 2030.
“The ratio of non-oil exports (including re-exports) to imports increased in April 2026, reaching 41.6 percent compared with 37.8 percent in April 2025. This increase was driven by a 4.5 percent increase in non-oil exports, alongside a 5.2 percent decrease in imports over the same period,” said GASTAT.
The Kingdom’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, totaled SR31.52 billion in April, with the value of re-exported goods rising 20.4 percent, while national non-oil exports excluding re-exports fell 7.3 percent, according to GASTAT.
Machinery, electrical equipment and parts were the leading non-oil export category in April, accounting for 28.1 percent of total non-oil exports and growing by 70 percent compared to the same month last year.
This was followed by plastic and rubber products, which represented 17.1 percent of non-oil exports but declined by 12.4 percent year on year.
Trading partners
China remained Saudi Arabia’s primary merchandise trading partner, with the Asian nation receiving 15.2 percent of total merchandise exports, followed by the UAE at 10.6 percent and South Korea at 9.7 percent.
The top 10 export destinations also included India, Japan, and Malta, as well as Singapore, the US, Egypt, and Poland, together accounting for 65.4 percent of total exports.
On the import side, China supplied 29.4 percent of total imports, followed by the UAE at 7.9 percent and the US at 7.2 percent.
Egypt, Switzerland, and Germany, were also among the top 10 import sources. along with Japan, India, France, and Italy, with imports from the top 10 countries representing 70.7 percent of Saudi Arabia’s overall imports.
Entry and exit points
Jeddah Islamic Seaport was the leading entry point for goods, accounting for 33.7 percent of total imports.
It was followed by King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 20.9 percent, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 17 percent, King Fahad International Airport in Dammam at 5.2 percent, and Al Bat’ha Port at 4.6 percent. These five ports together handled 81.4 percent of Saudi Arabia’s total merchandise imports.
For non-oil exports, Jeddah Islamic Port was the primary outlet, accounting for 23.3 percent of the total in April. It was followed by King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 15.8 percent, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 15.4 percent, Al Bat’ha Port at 7.2 percent, and Neom Seaport at 5.7 percent.
Collectively, these five ports accounted for 67.4 percent of Saudi Arabia’s total non-oil merchandise exports.
