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Saudi Arabia trade in 2024

In 2024, Saudi Arabia exported $308.3 billion and imported $223.2 billion, a trade surplus of $85.1 billion. It was the world's 26th-largest exporter, with 1.4% of world exports. Its top export was crude petroleum (60.6% of the total) and its main trading partner was China (21% of its trade).

Summary

Exports
$308.3billion
Imports
$223.2billion
Trade balance
+$85.1billion
Routes to the main partners. Width: trade value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand
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Products

What it exports

Crude petroleum (60.6%) and refined petroleum (9.7%) together make up 70.3% of its exports.

  1. Crude petroleum$186.9 billion · 60.6%
    Main partner: China
  2. Refined petroleum$29.9 billion · 9.7%
    Main partner: Egypt
  3. Polyethylene$11 billion · 3.6%
    Main partner: China
  4. Cameras and broadcast equipment$6.5 billion · 2.1%
    Main partner: United Arab Emirates
  5. Alcohols$5.1 billion · 1.7%
    Main partner: China
  6. Polypropylene$5 billion · 1.6%
    Main partner: Turkey
  7. Natural gas and LPG$4.5 billion · 1.5%
    Main partner: India
  8. Mixed fertilizers$3.3 billion · 1.1%
    Main partner: India
  9. Warships and other vessels$3.2 billion · 1%
    Main partner: United Arab Emirates
  10. Cyclic hydrocarbons$2.8 billion · 0.9%
    Main partner: United States

What it imports

Cars (9.1%) and refined petroleum (5.7%) together make up 14.8% of its imports.

  1. Cars$20.3 billion · 9.1%
    Main partner: Japan
  2. Refined petroleum$12.8 billion · 5.7%
    Main partner: Egypt
  3. Cameras and broadcast equipment$8.9 billion · 4%
    Main partner: China
  4. Gold$8.1 billion · 3.6%
    Main partner: Switzerland
  5. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$5.6 billion · 2.5%
    Main partner: Germany
  6. Valves and taps$2.8 billion · 1.3%
    Main partner: Italy
  7. Trucks$2.7 billion · 1.2%
    Main partner: China
  8. Computers$2.4 billion · 1.1%
    Main partner: China
  9. Airplanes and helicopters$2.4 billion · 1.1%
    Main partner: India
  10. Parts for cranes and excavators$2.2 billion · 0.99%
    Main partner: United Arab Emirates
By Harmonized System chapter (96)
ChapterExportsImports
27 · Oil, gas and coal$222.6 billion$13.5 billion
39 · Plastics$19.7 billion$6 billion
29 · Organic chemicals$12.9 billion$2.9 billion
85 · Electrical and electronic equipment$7.8 billion$24.7 billion
89 · Ships and boats$7.3 billion$2 billion
31 · Fertilizers$5 billion$187 million
84 · Mechanical machinery$2.9 billion$29.6 billion
76 · Aluminum$2.7 billion$1.8 billion
71 · Gems and precious metals$2.6 billion$10 billion
28 · Inorganic chemicals$2 billion$1.2 billion
88 · Aircraft and spacecraft$1.8 billion$3.3 billion
74 · Copper$1.8 billion$4.1 billion
87 · Vehicles$1.4 billion$28.4 billion
04 · Dairy, eggs and honey$1.4 billion$2.5 billion
38 · Miscellaneous chemicals$1.1 billion$1.9 billion
72 · Iron and steel$1.1 billion$5.9 billion
25 · Salt, stone and cement$1 billion$451 million
26 · Ores and slag$992 million$1 billion
48 · Paper and paperboard$970 million$2.1 billion
19 · Baked goods and cereal products$923 million$1.9 billion
73 · Iron and steel products$821 million$7.9 billion
40 · Rubber$773 million$2.4 billion
17 · Sugar and sweets$713 million$1.2 billion
30 · Pharmaceuticals$589 million$8.7 billion
34 · Soap and cleaning products$576 million$784 million
08 · Fruit and nuts$514 million$1.8 billion
15 · Fats and oils$407 million$2.1 billion
32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents$395 million$892 million
20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables$387 million$1.5 billion
90 · Precision and medical instruments$373 million$5.8 billion
22 · Beverages and spirits$357 million$232 million
70 · Glass$326 million$744 million
33 · Perfumes and cosmetics$320 million$2.4 billion
68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles$269 million$869 million
02 · Meat and offal$262 million$2.7 billion
21 · Food preparations$195 million$1.9 billion
81 · Other base metals$188 million$88 million
54 · Synthetic filaments$182 million$544 million
03 · Fish and seafood$180 million$416 million
78 · Lead$180 million$22 million
69 · Ceramics$164 million$1.1 billion
91 · Watches and clocks$150 million$559 million
56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope$141 million$200 million
16 · Prepared meat and fish$136 million$774 million
09 · Coffee, tea and spices$132 million$1.5 billion
23 · Animal feed and food waste$119 million$1.2 billion
83 · Miscellaneous metal goods$113 million$916 million
62 · Woven clothing$109 million$2.4 billion
94 · Furniture and lighting$98 million$4.7 billion
63 · Home textiles and used clothing$89 million$515 million
44 · Wood$86 million$1.9 billion
35 · Glues, starches and enzymes$82 million$273 million
82 · Tools and cutlery$81 million$836 million
01 · Live animals$69 million$1.5 billion
61 · Knitted clothing$69 million$2 billion
18 · Cocoa and chocolate$67 million$708 million
95 · Toys and sports gear$66 million$1.1 billion
75 · Nickel$61 million$217 million
47 · Wood pulp$60 million$278 million
07 · Vegetables$52 million$695 million
79 · Zinc$49 million$269 million
41 · Hides and leather$49 million$3 million
57 · Carpets and rugs$47 million$590 million
55 · Synthetic staple fibers$43 million$324 million
97 · Art and antiques$43 million$128 million
42 · Leather goods and bags$28 million$842 million
64 · Footwear$26 million$1.3 billion
11 · Milling products and malt$25 million$222 million
86 · Railway equipment$19 million$447 million
49 · Books and printed matter$14 million$200 million
12 · Oilseeds and grains$13 million$903 million
96 · Other manufactured goods$13 million$534 million
13 · Gums and plant extracts$13 million$55 million
45 · Cork$12 million$37 million
92 · Musical instruments$12 million$11 million
80 · Tin$12 million$17 million
59 · Coated and technical textiles$8 million$133 million
60 · Knitted fabric$8 million$149 million
10 · Cereals$7 million$5.2 billion
06 · Live plants and flowers$7 million$147 million
24 · Tobacco$5 million$523 million
58 · Special fabrics and lace$4 million$59 million
37 · Photographic goods$4 million$29 million
51 · Wool$4 million$19 million
93 · Weapons and ammunition$4 million$919 million
36 · Explosives and matches$2 million$65 million
65 · Hats$2 million$125 million
46 · Wicker and basketware$2 million$41 million
66 · Umbrellas and canes$2 million$24 million
52 · Cotton$1 million$51 million
67 · Feathers and artificial flowers$899 thousand$61 million
05 · Other animal products$643 thousand$8 million
43 · Fur and fur goods$565 thousand$5 million
14 · Other plant products$165 thousand$18 million
53 · Other plant fibers$121 thousand$24 million
50 · Silk$106 thousand$5 million

Trading partners

China is its main destination (18.8% of exports) and source (23.9% of imports).

Who it sells to

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
China58.118.8%Sea
South Korea31.510.2%Sea
India30.810%Sea
Japan29.89.7%Sea
United Arab Emirates18.76.1%Land
United States13.34.3%Sea
Poland8.72.8%Sea
Taiwan8.42.7%Sea
Malaysia8.22.7%Sea
Egypt8.22.7%Sea

Who it buys from

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
China53.323.9%Sea
United States14.96.7%Sea
India146.3%Sea
United Arab Emirates12.45.6%Land
Germany9.44.2%Sea
Japan8.13.6%Sea
Egypt7.83.5%Sea
Switzerland7.33.3%Air
Italy73.1%Sea
South Korea6.12.7%Sea

Overview 1995–2024

In 2024, Saudi Arabia accounted for 1.4% of world exports, compared with 1% in 1995.

Exports and imports

Exports grew 6-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 308
  • Imports 223
  • Balance +85.1

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$50.7 billion$33.7 billion$17 billion
1996$58.7 billion$34.9 billion$23.8 billion
1997$60.2 billion$30.9 billion$29.4 billion
1998$44.5 billion$39 billion$5.5 billion
1999$48.5 billion$34.4 billion$14.1 billion
2000$81 billion$36.3 billion$44.8 billion
2001$73.1 billion$38.1 billion$35 billion
2002$70.7 billion$39.5 billion$31.2 billion
2003$93.3 billion$46.9 billion$46.4 billion
2004$123 billion$52.1 billion$70.9 billion
2005$170.3 billion$65.2 billion$105.1 billion
2006$213.9 billion$77.4 billion$136.6 billion
2007$228.2 billion$96.6 billion$131.6 billion
2008$332 billion$122.7 billion$209.3 billion
2009$191.4 billion$100.4 billion$91.1 billion
2010$250.9 billion$113.9 billion$137 billion
2011$366.2 billion$140.6 billion$225.6 billion
2012$395.8 billion$163.3 billion$232.5 billion
2013$390.2 billion$175.6 billion$214.5 billion
2014$367.7 billion$183.8 billion$183.9 billion
2015$204.5 billion$188.2 billion$16.3 billion
2016$187.5 billion$143 billion$44.5 billion
2017$225.9 billion$141.9 billion$84 billion
2018$295.5 billion$136.3 billion$159.2 billion
2019$264.2 billion$151.8 billion$112.4 billion
2020$186.5 billion$140.5 billion$46 billion
2021$268.6 billion$153.7 billion$115 billion
2022$409.7 billion$188.5 billion$221.2 billion
2023$335.1 billion$203.9 billion$131.2 billion
2024$308.3 billion$223.2 billion$85.1 billion

World rank

Saudi Arabia holds steady at 26th among the world's exporters

Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).

  • 26th in 1995
  • 26th in 2024

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearRank
199526th
199624th
199724th
199827th
199927th
200020th
200122nd
200224th
200321st
200420th
200517th
200616th
200716th
200813th
200919th
201016th
201113th
201212th
201313th
201413th
201522nd
201625th
201724th
201820th
201923rd
202028th
202126th
202220th
202324th
202426th

What it sells

Its top export group is still oil, gas and coal: 72% in 2024

% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.

  • Other 9%
  • Aluminum 1%
  • Mechanical machinery 1%
  • Fertilizers 2%
  • Ships and boats 2%
  • Electrical and electronic equipment 3%
  • Organic chemicals 4%
  • Plastics 6%
  • Oil, gas and coal 72%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Chapter19952024
Oil, gas and coal81.4%72.2%
Plastics3.5%6.4%
Organic chemicals4.8%4.2%
Electrical and electronic equipment0.62%2.6%
Ships and boats0.02%2.4%
Fertilizers1%1.6%
Mechanical machinery1%0.93%
Aluminum0.46%0.88%
Other7.2%8.9%

Who it trades with

China went from 2% to 21% of Saudi Arabia's trade

% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.

  • China 21%
  • India 8%
  • Japan 7%
  • South Korea 7%
  • United Arab Emirates 6%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
China1.7%21%
India2.4%8.4%
Japan15.1%7.1%
South Korea8.1%7.1%
United Arab Emirates1.2%5.9%

Production hubs

Largest industrial emission sources (Climate TRACE, 2025)

  • Widyan - North Arabian Gulf basin (conventional onshore)Oil and gas · 109.7 Mt CO₂e
  • Widyan - North Arabian Gulf basin (conventional offshore)Oil and gas · 68.5 Mt CO₂e
  • Qurayyah Thermal power plantPower · 20.2 Mt CO₂e
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Largest economic production hubs (gridded GDP, 2024)

  • Riyadh$819.8 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Jeddah$503 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Manama$161.3 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
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Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.

Neighboring countries

Main partners

See all countries