Saudi Non-Oil Exports Driven by Chemical & Allied Industries

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports including re-exports surged by 13.1 % in the third quarter to SR78.4 billion (US$20.86 billion) comparing to the same period last year, according to a report from the General Authority for Statistics, also known as GASTAT.

However, on a quarter-on-quarter basis, the Kingdom's non-oil exports in the third quarter decreased by SR8.4 billion (US$2.24 billion) or 9.6 % compared to the second quarter of this year. Overall merchandise exports in the third quarter increased by 46.1 % to SR399.7 billion (US$106.37 billion), compared to the same period last year.

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports were driven by chemical and allied industries which accounted for 36.8 % of non-oil merchandise exports in the second quarter, GASTAT report stated. In the third quarter, the Kingdom’s merchandise imports grew to SR181.1 billion (US$48.19 billion), registering a year-on-year increase of 25.1 %. This is an increase of 4.8 % when compared with the second quarter of this year.