GASTAT Reports 13.4% Growth in Non-Oil Exports in Q1 2025, 10.7% Increase in March
The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has released its International Trade Statistics bulletin for March 2025 and the first quarter of the year (Q1 2025), highlighting continued momentum in Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports.
According to the report, non-oil exports—including re-exports—rose by 13.4% in Q1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. In March 2025 alone, non-oil exports were up by 10.7% year-on-year, reinforcing the growing contribution of non-oil sectors to the Kingdom's international trade.
In contrast, total merchandise exports declined by 3.2% in Q1 and by 9.8% in March, compared to the same periods in 2024.
Merchandise imports saw an upward trend, increasing by 7.3% in Q1 2025 and by 0.1% in March year-on-year. Despite this, the trade balance surplus narrowed—falling by 28% in Q1 and 34.2% in March.
The ratio of non-oil exports to imports improved, reaching 36.2% in Q1 2025 (up from 34.3% in Q1 2024) and 36.5% in March (up from 33% in March 2024).
Meanwhile, the share of oil exports in total merchandise exports declined to 71.8% in Q1 2025 from 75.9% the previous year, and to 71.2% in March, down from 76.5% in March 2024.
Moreover, chemical products led non-oil exports, making up 23.8% of the total in Q1 and 25.7% in March 2025. On the import side, machinery, electrical equipment, and parts were the most significant, accounting for 25.8% in Q1 and 26.1% in March. China, Saudi Arabia
China remained Saudi Arabia's top trading partner, representing 15.7% of total exports and 26.6% of imports in Q1 2025. In March. Additionally, China's share stood at 15.5% of exports and 25.3% of imports.
GASTAT noted that the international trade data are compiled using administrative records from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority for non-oil figures, and from the Ministry of Energy for oil-related data. Commodity classifications follow the 2022 Harmonized System (HS) codes.
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