Saudi Arabia’s trade surplus narrowed sharply to SAR14.2 billion ($3.8 billion) in April 2025, down from SAR37.0 billion ($9.9. billion) in the same month last year.
According to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), this figure marked the smallest trade surplus since December, as exports declined while imports surged.
Exports fell 10.9 percent year-on-year to a ten-month low of SAR90.3 billion ($24.1 billion), driven by a 21.2 percent drop in oil exports, which accounted for 68.6 percent of total exports. In contrast, non-oil exports increased by 24.6 percent.
China remained the leading destination for Saudi exports, representing 12.6 percent of the total, followed by Japan at 10.1 percent and the UAE at 9.8 percent. Imports, on the other hand, rose by 18.3 percent to SAR76.1 billion, fueled by a surge in purchases of machinery, electrical equipment, and parts, which increased by 25.4 percent and constituted 27.7 percent of total imports.
Additionally, imports of transportation equipment and parts skyrocketed by 64.5 percent, accounting for 17.2 percent of total imports.
Among the major suppliers, China held the largest share of imports at 25.0 percent, followed by the U.S. at 7.5 percent and the UAE at 6.8 percent.
Read more: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports jump to $7.1 billion in July 2022
Trade surplus rebounds
Saudi Arabia’s trade surplus has shown a strong rebound in 2025, reflecting both the resilience of its export sector and the effectiveness of ongoing economic diversification efforts. In the first quarter of 2025, the Kingdom’s trade surplus soared to over SAR63 billion (about $16.8 billion), marking a 52 percent increase compared to the previous quarter. This surge was driven by a combination of robust export performance and a notable reduction in imports.
During Q1 2025, Saudi Arabia’s total international trade reached SAR508 billion. Exports accounted for approximately SAR285 billion, while imports stood at just over SAR222 billion. Oil exports remained the dominant force, totaling more than SAR205 billion and making up 71.8 percent of all exports. However, non-oil national exports also played a significant role, contributing over SAR54 billion (19 percent of total exports). Re-exports added another SAR26 billion, or 9.3 percent of the total.
