Saudi Non-Oil Exports Rise Nearly 19% in 2025 as Re-Exports Power Growth

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports posted strong growth in 2025, rising 18.9 percent from the previous year as re-export activity surged and strengthened the Kingdom’s drive to diversify its economy beyond crude oil.

Official figures released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) showed that non-oil exports, including re-exports, reached SR366.08 billion ($97.04 billion) during the year. The sharp increase came despite a slight decline of 0.1 percent in national non-oil exports excluding re-exports.

The rise was largely driven by re-exported goods, whose value climbed 64.4 percent compared with 2024. Re-exports involve goods imported into the Kingdom before being shipped abroad again, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a regional logistics and trade center.

GASTAT said the increase helped improve the ratio of non-oil exports to imports, which reached 38.5 percent in 2025, up from 35.3 percent a year earlier. Imports also expanded, rising 8.8 percent over the same period.

The figures reflect progress in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to reduce dependence on oil income and develop industries linked to trade, logistics and manufacturing.

“The ratio of non-oil exports including re-exports to imports increased in 2025, reaching 38.5 percent compared with 35.3 percent in 2024,” GASTAT said, attributing the gain to stronger export growth alongside rising imports.

Chemical products remained the Kingdom’s largest non-oil export category, accounting for 22.5 percent of total non-oil exports and recording annual growth of 4.7 percent.

Machinery, electrical equipment and related parts followed closely, representing 22.4 percent of non-oil exports. This segment saw one of the strongest performances, surging 91.8 percent from the previous year.

Saudi Arabia’s overall merchandise exports rose by a modest 2.1 percent to SR1.16 trillion. Oil exports, however, fell by 4 percent, reducing oil’s share of total exports from 73.1 percent in 2024 to 68.7 percent in 2025.

China retained its position as Saudi Arabia’s largest export market, receiving 14.6 percent of merchandise exports. The United Arab Emirates ranked second with 10 percent, followed by India at 9.4 percent. South Korea, Japan, the United States, Egypt, Bahrain, Poland and Malta also featured among the leading destinations.

On the import side, China remained Saudi Arabia’s biggest supplier, accounting for 27.5 percent of total imports. The United States and the UAE followed with shares of 8.2 percent and 5.7 percent respectively.

Ports and airports continued to play a central role in trade activity. King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam handled 26.6 percent of imports, while King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah led non-oil export shipments with a 14.2 percent share.