Saudi Arabia’s October Trade Hits $49 Billion as Surplus Surges 47.4%
Strong Year-on-Year Growth in Trade Figures
Figures from the General Authority for Statistics reveal a robust year-on-year growth of 8.4% in Saudi Arabia’s trade for October 2025, amounting to over SR14 billion compared to SR169.8 billion ($45.3 billion) reported in the same month of the previous year. This marks a notable upswing, reflecting the resilience of the Saudi economy amidst changing global market conditions.
Merchandise exports played a significant role, comprising 56.5% of total trade and reaching SR103.9 billion ($27.7 billion)—the highest recorded level in 2025. In contrast, imports totaled SR80.1 billion ($21.4 billion), accounting for 43.5% of total trade. Notably, July 2025 witnessed the highest overall trade volume for the year, surpassing SR185 billion.
Trade Surplus Experiences Significant Increase
In October 2025, Saudi Arabia achieved a trade surplus of SR23.9 billion ($6.4 billion), representing a substantial annual increase of 47.4%. This figure surpasses the surplus of SR16.2 billion ($4.3 billion) recorded in October 2024 by more than SR7 billion, underscoring the positive trajectory of the nation’s commercial activities.
The substantial trade surplus indicates a strong export performance, particularly in the petroleum sector, which underpins much of Saudi Arabia’s foreign trade.
Key Aspects of Merchandise Exports
Non-oil national exports, excluding re-exports, stood at approximately SR20.1 billion ($5.4 billion), making up 19.3% of total merchandise exports—a rise of 2.4% from SR19.6 billion ($5.2 billion) in October 2024. This growth reinforces the Kingdom’s strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil dependency.
Petroleum exports dominated the market, totaling SR70.1 billion ($18.7 billion) and comprising 67.4% of total exports. This reinforces the critical role of hydrocarbons in Saudi Arabia’s trade framework.
Re-exports also saw remarkable growth, climbing 130.7% year-on-year to reach approximately SR13.8 billion ($3.7 billion). This accounts for 13.2% of total merchandise exports, up from SR5.9 billion ($1.6 billion) in the previous year. The surge in re-exports reflects expanding trade relations, bolstered by improved logistics and strategic trade agreements.
Export Destinations and Key Trading Partners
Asian countries emerged as the primary destination for Saudi exports, accounting for 73.1% of the total, valued at SR76.1 billion ($20.3 billion). European nations followed with 12.2% of exports, worth SR12.7 billion ($3.4 billion). Meanwhile, African countries contributed 7.4% of the exports, amounting to SR7.7 billion ($2.1 billion), and the Americas represented 7.1%, valued at SR7.4 billion ($2 billion).
China retained its position as the largest importer of Saudi exports, making up 14.1% of the total, or SR14.7 billion ($3.9 billion). The UAE and India were notable trading partners as well, accounting for 10.9% (SR11.4 billion, or $3.0 billion) and 9.9% (SR10.3 billion, or $2.7 billion) respectively.
Non-Oil Exports: Performance Through Various Customs Ports
In terms of non-oil exports—comprising goods excluding re-exports—the Kingdom processed a total value of SR33.9 billion ($9 billion) through 31 land, sea, and air customs ports. This indicates a broadening of trade routes and enhanced logistical capabilities.
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah led the logistics arena with exports worth SR4.6 billion ($1.2 billion), further underscoring its strategic importance. Meanwhile, Jeddah Islamic Port followed closely with SR3.8 billion ($1 billion) in export value, highlighting the critical role of Saudi ports in international trade.
The diversification of export routes also points to Saudi Arabia’s commitment to enhancing its global trade footprint, aligning with its broader economic goals.
Published on 1768161435 • Category: Politics & Economics,Saudi trade