Saudi Arabia’s Non-Oil Trade Surplus with GCC More Than Doubles in November

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil trade surplus with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries more than doubled in November, driven by a surge in exports, preliminary government data showed.

The surplus reached about SR6.6 billion ($1.76 billion), up 102 percent from SR3.3 billion in the same month last year, according to the General Authority for Statistics. Total non-oil trade with GCC countries rose 30 percent to SR20.4 billion from SR15.7 billion as exports outpaced import growth. Non-oil goods exports climbed to SR13.5 billion in November from SR9.5 billion a year earlier, while imports increased to SR6.9 billion from SR6.2 billion.

Re-exports formed the bulk of outbound trade, rising to SR9.76 billion in November from SR6.56 billion last year. National exports also grew to SR3.75 billion from SR2.92 billion.

The United Arab Emirates remained Saudi Arabia’s largest non-oil trading partner within the GCC. Exports to the UAE reached SR10.48 billion in November, compared with SR7.18 billion a year earlier, including SR8.38 billion in re-exports and SR2.10 billion in national exports. Imports from the UAE increased to SR4.79 billion from SR3.95 billion, pushing the non-oil trade surplus with the Emirates to SR5.69 billion from SR3.23 billion.

Trade with Kuwait also expanded, as exports rose to SR769.9 million from SR610.6 million, including SR199.2 million in re-exports and SR570.7 million in national exports. Imports from Kuwait fell to SR176.4 million from SR333.3 million, raising the trade surplus to SR593.5 million from SR277.3 million.

With Bahrain, exports fell slightly to SR900.7 million from SR929.7 million due to a decline in re-exports to SR380.3 million from SR572.7 million. National exports increased to SR520.4 million from SR356.9 million. Imports from Bahrain rose to SR862.4 million from SR662.4 million, reducing the trade surplus to SR38.3 million from SR267.2 million.

Saudi Arabia narrowed its non-oil trade deficit with Oman as exports rose to SR666.7 million from SR356.5 million, supported by re-exports of SR259.6 million versus SR39.3 million and national exports of SR407.0 million versus SR317.3 million. Imports from Oman declined to SR873.2 million from SR1.11 billion, bringing the trade deficit down to SR206.6 million from SR749.1 million.

Trade with Qatar also strengthened, with exports increasing to SR691.1 million from SR395.8 million. Re-exports rose to SR536.2 million from SR253.9 million, and national exports grew to SR155.0 million from SR141.9 million. Imports climbed to SR199.3 million from SR148.9 million, resulting in a trade surplus of SR491.8 million, up from SR246.9 million.

The figures highlight Saudi Arabia’s growing non-oil trade within the GCC, reflecting stronger regional economic integration and rising demand for goods and services beyond the energy sector.