Saudi merchandise imports down to SAR 60.4B in December 2023

27/02/2024 Argaam Special
Jeddah Islamic Port

Jeddah Islamic Port


Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports fell in December 2023 by 7% year-on-year (YoY) to almost SAR 60.4 billion, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

 

Accordingly, merchandise imports saw its first decline in nearly three years, almost since February 2021.

 

For more details on merchandise imports from Argaam Tools

 

Meanwhile, merchandise imports declined 10%, or by nearly SAR 6.8 billion, month-on-month (MoM), as follows:

 

Saudi Merchandise Imports (SAR bln)*

Month 

2022 

2023 

Value 

YoY Change (%) 

January 

52.35

67.69

15.34

29% 

February 

49.27

57.31

8.05

16% 

March 

56.29

69.04

12.75

23% 

April 

57.32

58.31

0.99

2% 

May 

55.96

69.54

13.58

24% 

June 

62.07

64.77

2.70

4% 

July 

57.56

70.20

12.64

22% 

August 

63.80

70.18

6.38

10% 

September 

61.46

62.91

1.45

2% 

October 

66.28

73.90

7.62

11% 

November 

64.75

67.15

2.40

4%

December 

64.94

60.35

(4.59)

(7%) 

*Data is updated periodically.

 

Total Merchandise Imports (SAR bln)

 

Source: Argaam Tools

 

Imports of machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment, and their parts came on top in December, representing 21.5%, or SAR 13 billion, of the total Saudi imports.

 

Vehicles, aircraft, vessels, and associated transport equipment came second at 20%.

 

The table below shows details of Saudi imports in December by segment:

 

Saudi Imports Value in December (SAR bln)

Segment

December

2022

December

2023

Value

Change

Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts Thereof

14.24

13.00

(1.24)

(9.0%)

Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment

10.71

12.08

+1.37

 +13%

Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal

6.31

5.40

(0.91)

(14%)

Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries

5.64

4.82

(0.82)

(15%)

Mineral Products

3.22

4.62

+1.41

 +44%

Prepared Foodstuffs; Beverages, Spirits

and Vinegar; Tobacco and

Manufactured Tobacco Substitutes

3.66

2.64

(1.01)

(28%)

Vegetable Products

4.66

2.58

(2.09)

(45%)

Natural or Cultured Pearls, Precious or Semi-Precious Stones and Others

2.10

2.22

+0.11

+5%

Live animals and animal products

1.96

2.06

+0.10

+5%

Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; clocks and watches; musical instruments; parts and accessories thereof

1.76

2.02

+0.26

+15%

Others

10.68

8.91

(1.77)

(17%)

Total

64.94

60.35

(4.58)

(7%)

 

Saudi Arabia’s imports came mainly from China in December, at SAR 12.7 billion or 21% of the total.

 

The US and the UAE followed with SAR 4.9 billion and SAR 4.7 billion, respectively.

 

The top 10 exporters to Saudi Arabia accounted for almost 63%, or SAR 37.9 billion, of the total imports in December, as shown below:

 

Top 10 Exporters to Saudi Arabia in December 2023 (SAR bln)

Country

Value

 % of imports

China

12.70

 21.0%

US

4.89

 8.1%

UAE

4.69

 7.8%

India

3.31

 5.5%

Japan

2.75

 4.6%

Germany

2.56

 4.2%

Egypt

2.07

 3.4%

Italy

1.78

 2.9%

United Kingdom

1.62

 2.7%

Switzerland

1.53

 2.5%

Other Countries

22.45

 37.2%

Total

60.35

 100.0%

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