Saudi Arabia closed 2025 with steady trade momentum as merchandise imports rose 2% year-on-year to approximately SAR 84.2 billion in December, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The figure also marks a 5% increase compared to November 2025, underscoring the Kingdom’s sustained demand across industrial, technological, and consumer sectors.
Electrical Machinery Drives Surge in Imports
Machinery, mechanical appliances, electrical equipment, and their components dominated the import breakdown for December, accounting for 31% of total imports at approximately SAR 26.5 billion — a 28% jump year-on-year. This growth reflects the accelerating pace of Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure development and industrial expansion as the Kingdom implements its National Investment Strategy and Vision 2030 agenda.
Vehicles, aircraft, vessels, and associated transport equipment followed as the second largest category, contributing about 16% of total imports at SAR 13.65 billion, with 10% annual growth — a testament to the growing demand across the Kingdom’s transport and aviation sectors.
Diverse Import Mix with Some Sector Declines
While several categories recorded strong growth in December, others saw notable adjustments. Imports of base metals and metal products declined 32%, and precious stones, metals, and jewelry fell sharply by 40% compared to the same month in 2024. Chemical product imports also eased modestly, reflecting shifts in both pricing and seasonal demand patterns. Animal products, vegetable goods, and food and beverage imports all showed modest increases in the one to eight percent range, indicating stable consumer spending on essential goods heading into the Ramadan season.
China Leads as Saudi Arabia’s Top Import Partner
China maintained its position as Saudi Arabia’s leading goods supplier in December, providing SAR 24.2 billion worth of imports — 29% of the Kingdom’s total. The United States ranked second at SAR 6 billion, followed by the UAE, Germany, and India, each contributing between 4.7% and 5% of total imports.
The top ten exporting countries collectively supplied SAR 56.4 billion, representing roughly 67% of Saudi Arabia’s total merchandise imports for the month. This trading profile reflects the Kingdom’s broad and diversified global supply chain as it balances strategic partnerships across Asia, the Americas, and Europe — all in service of its structured economic transformation toward a more diversified and knowledge-based model.
