Saudi Imports Slip 1% to SAR 222.3B in Q1 2026

Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports fell 1% year on year to almost SAR 222.3 billion in the first quarter of 2026, data from the General Authority for Statistics showed. The quarterly decline was steeper: imports slid 11% from the final three months of 2025, a drop of roughly SAR 27.1 billion.

Machinery and electrical equipment made up the largest share of imports at 30% of the total. Transport equipment – vehicles, aircraft, ships – accounted for about 11%. Together, those two categories represent the bulk of the kingdom’s foreign purchases, covering everything from industrial machinery and consumer electronics to cars and aircraft.

China was the top exporter to Saudi Arabia during the quarter, sending SAR 65.8 billion worth of goods, or 30% of all imports. The United States came next at 8%, followed by the United Arab Emirates at 7%. The concentration of trade with China has grown steadily over the past decade, reflecting deeper commercial ties under bilateral frameworks.

The numbers offer a snapshot of demand trends in the kingdom as it pushes to expand non-oil industries and reduce reliance on foreign goods under Vision 2030. The small year-on-year decline in imports points to steady consumption and investment activity, even as the sequential drop suggests some slowing toward the end of the period.

GASTAT’s report did not include a breakdown by specific commodity categories or customs data by port. The figures cover all goods entering Saudi Arabia for commercial use, excluding crude oil exports and other shipments that fall outside the merchandise import definition.