Saudi Arabia trade passes $49bn in October as surplus jumps 47.4%

Figures published in the international trade bulletin for October 2025 by the General Authority for Statistics showed year-on-year growth of 8.4 per cent, an increase of more than SR14bn compared with SR169.8bn ($45.3bn) in October 2024.

Merchandise exports accounted for 56.5 per cent of total trade, reaching SR103.9bn ($27.7bn), the highest level recorded in 2025. Imports stood at SR80.1bn ($21.4bn), representing 43.5 per cent of total trade. Data showed that the highest overall trade volume this year was recorded in July, when it exceeded SR185bn.

Saudi Arabia recorded a trade surplus of SR23.9bn ($6.4bn) in October 2025, representing an annual increase of 47.4 per cent and exceeding SR7bn compared with a surplus of SR16.2bn ($4.3bn) in the same month last year.

Saudi Arabia trade growth

Non-oil national exports, excluding re-exports, reached approximately SR20.1bn ($5.4bn), accounting for 19.3 per cent of total merchandise exports. This marked annual growth of 2.4 per cent, an increase of about SR462.3m ($123.3m) compared with SR19.6bn ($5.2bn) in October 2024.

Petroleum exports totalled SR70.1bn ($18.7bn), representing 67.4 per cent of total exports.

Re-exports recorded a sharp annual increase of 130.7 per cent, rising by SR7.8bn to approximately SR13.8bn ($3.7bn), or 13.2 per cent of total merchandise exports, compared with SR5.9bn ($1.6bn) in the same period last year.

By destination:

• Asian countries accounted for the largest share of Saudi exports at 73.1 per cent, valued at SR76.1bn ($20.3bn)
• European countries followed with 12.2 per cent, or SR12.7bn ($3.4bn)
• African countries accounted for 7.4 per cent, or SR7.7bn ($2.1bn)
• The Americas represented 7.1 per cent of exports, valued at SR7.4bn ($2bn)

Among individual trading partners, China remained the top importer of Saudi exports, accounting for 14.1 per cent, or SR14.7bn ($3.9bn).

The UAE followed with 10.9 per cent, or SR11.4bn ($3.0bn), while India ranked third at 9.9 per cent, equivalent to SR10.3bn ($2.7bn).

In terms of non-oil exports, including re-exports, goods passed through 31 land, sea, and air customs ports, with a combined value of SR33.9bn ($9bn).

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah led with SR4.6bn ($1.2bn), followed by Jeddah Islamic Port at SR3.8bn ($1bn).