Oil exports inch up in August after 14 months of downtrend

Oil exports inched up for the first time since May 2024 to hit SAR 69.8 bn in August, marking a 7% y-o-y increase, according to preliminary data (pdf) from the General Authority for Statistics. Oil exports’ share of total exports increased 0.3 percentage points y-o-y to 70.5% y-o-y in August.

REFRESHER- The Kingdom’s oil output increased since June after Opec+ agreed to accelerate oil production increments, adding 411k bbl / d to the global market.

Total merchandise exports rose 6.6% y-o-y, reaching SAR 99.1 bn during the month, leading to a 4.1% y-o-y rise in our trade balance to a surplus of SAR 24.2 bn.

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NON-OIL BREAKDOWN-

Non-oil merchandise exports, including re-exports, rose 5.5% y-o-y in August 2025, as re-exports jumped 32.9% y-o-y to SAR 11.4 bn lifted by an increase of 90.9% in machinery, electrical equipment, and parts. However, non-oil merchandise exports, excluding re-exports, dipped 6.7% y-o-y to SAR 17.9 bn in August.

The ratio of non-oil exports to imports fell to 39.1% in August, from 39.8% a year earlier, driven by a 7.4% increase in imports to SAR 74.9 bn.

Machinery, electrical equipment and parts topped the export list comprising 25.4% of the total non-oil exports, soaring 79.8% y-o-y to just under SAR 7.5 bn. Chemical products followed, accounting for 22.7% of non-oil exports, despite recording a 7.4% y-o-y decrease to just above SAR 6.6 bn.

On the imports side, machinery, electrical equipment, and parts also led the way, making up 29.8% of total imports, with a substantial increase of 24.7% y-o-y to SAR 22.3 bn during the month. Transportation equipment and parts followed, accounting for 14.1% of total imports, with a 6.1% y-o-y increase to SAR 10.6 bn.

China still holds the reins of the trade list, receiving 16.2% of the Kingdom's total exports, reaching SAR 16 bn. The UAE came in second on the export list at SAR 11.04 bn for 11.1% of total exports, followed by India at SAR 9.2 bn (9.2%). South Korea, Japan, US, Egypt, Poland, Bahrain, and Singapore rounded out the top 10 export destinations, collectively accounting for 67.4% of total exports.

In terms of imports, China maintained its position as the Kingdom's main source, taking up 26.4% of the total, amounting to SAR 19.8 bn, followed by the US at SAR 5.8 bn (7.8%) and the UAE at SAR 4.04 bn (5.4%). Germany, India, Japan, Italy, France, Egypt, and Oman rounded out the top 10 countries.

The main ports: Five customs ports handled the vast majority of goods entering the Kingdom, with Dammam’s King Abdulaziz Port on top, receiving 25.6% of total imports in August, followed by Jeddah Islamic Sea Port (21.9%), Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (13.2%), King Abdulaziz International Airport (12.1%), and Dammam’s King Fahad International Airport (5.8%).