Saudi Chemical Exports Tumble 26% to SAR 4.61B in April

Saudi Arabia's exports of chemicals and related products fell 26% year-on-year to nearly SAR 4.61 billion in April 2026, according to official trade data.

The drop extends a sustained slide in petrochemical shipments. Global demand has weakened as China's manufacturing sector slows and European industrial output remains subdued. Lower benchmark prices for polymers, fertilizers and other basic chemicals have also cut into the value of exports.

Petrochemicals are Saudi Arabia's largest non-oil export category. The sustained decline adds pressure on the kingdom's diversification push under Vision 2030. The April figure is the lowest monthly total since early 2021, when pandemic-era disruptions still weighed on global trade.

Saudi chemical producers, including SABIC, have been running plants at reduced rates to manage inventory. Margins have tightened as feedstock costs linked to natural gas and oil prices have not fallen as fast as product prices. Several producers have delayed maintenance turnarounds to avoid further output cuts.

The April data follows similar declines in earlier months this year. The cumulative export value for the first four months of 2026 is roughly 24% below the same period last year, according to the statistics authority. If the trend holds, full-year exports could fall below SAR 55 billion for the first time since 2020.

Traders and analysts are watching for signs of a floor. Chinese stimulus measures could eventually boost industrial demand. The timing of any recovery remains unclear. The next monthly export report, due in June, will show whether the pace of decline is slowing.