Preliminary government data reported that Saudi Arabia’s non-oil trade surplus with Gulf Cooperation Council countries increased more than two times in November, a steep rise in exports.
According to the General Authority for Statistics, the surplus recorded about SR6.6 billion ($1.76 billion), up 102 percent from SR3.3 billion a year earlier.
Overall, total non-oil trade with GCC countries increased 30 percent to SR20.4 billion compared to SR15.7 billion, with exports growing faster than imports. The non-oil goods exports surged to SR13.5 billion in November from SR9.5 billion a year earlier, while imports increased to SR6.9 billion from SR6.2 billion.
Outbound trade was dominated by re-exports, which hit SR9.76 billion in November compared to SR6.56 billion the previous year, and national exports also rose to SR3.75 billion compared to SR2.92 billion.
The UAE was still the largest non-oil trading partner of Saudi Arabia in the GCC. The exports to the Emirates totaled SR10.48 billion in November compared to SR7.18 billion a year earlier, comprising SR8.38 billion in re-exports and SR2.10 billion in national exports.
Outbound trade was dominated by re-exports, which hit SR9.76 billion in November compared to SR6.56 billion the previous year, and national exports also rose to SR3.75 billion compared to SR2.92 billion.
Imports of the UAE were SR4.79 billion, up from SR3.95 billion, lifting the non-oil trade surplus with the UAE to about SR5.69 billion from SR3.23 billion.
The trade with Kuwait also increased, and the exports amounted to SR769.9 million compared to SR610.6 million, re-exports amounted to SR199.2 million, and national exports amounted to SR570.7 million.
The imports in Kuwait decreased to SR176.4 million compared with SR333.3 million, and the trade surplus increased to SR593.5million compared to SR277.3million.
The exports with Bahrain decreased to SR900.7 million, as against SR929.7 million, with a decrease in re-exports to SR380.3 million as compared to SR572.7 million, and on the other hand, national exports increased to SR520.4 million compared to SR356.9 million.
The imports increased to SR862.4 million as compared to SR662.4 million, and the surplus decreased to SR38.3 million compared to SR267.2 million.
Saudi Arabia reduced the non-oil trade deficit with Oman, with exports rising to SR666.7 million compared to SR356.5 million, which has been supported by re-exports of SR259.6 million compared to SR39.3 million and national exports of SR407.0 million compared to SR317.3 million.
Oman imports decreased to SR873.2 million against SR1.11 billion, and the balance of trade came to a negative of SR206.6 million compared to a negative of SR749.1 million in November 2024.
Trade was enhanced, as exports increased to SR691.1 million compared to SR395.8 million, with re-exports of SR536.2 million compared to SR253.9 million and national exports of SR155.0 million compared to SR141.9 million.
The imports rose to SR199.3 million compared with SR148.9 million, and the surplus was SR491.8 million, against SR246.9 million.
