Non-oil exports of Saudi Arabia jumped 28.4 percent in the third quarter of 2021, compared with the same period last year, due to higher shipments of plastics and chemicals, according to data from the General Authority for Statistics. Sales of the product group of plastics, rubber and related articles surged by 49 percent, while exports of products of the chemical or allied industries rose by 38.4 percent. Non-oil exports went up by a higher yearly rate in the previous quarter, increasing by 52.3 percent. For 3Q 2021, China was the Kingdom’s top trading partner. Saudi Arabia exported SR51.7 billion ($13.8 billion) worth of shipments to China, making up 18.7 percent of total exports. Countries that came next were India and Japan, with shares of 9.6 and 9.5 percent, respectively. Saudi Arabia’s imports from China were valued at SR30.9 billion in the third quarter of 2021. This constituted more than a fifth of the Kingdom’s total. Imports from the US and the UAE were also relatively large, as they made up 10.3 and 7.2 percent, respectively.
In September, non-oil exports increased by 38.2 percent year-on-year, rising to SR25.3 billion from SR18.3 billion in the same month a year ago. This was the highest annual increase since June. Overall exports increased by a yearly rate of 71.8 percent in the third quarter of 2021. The value of imports grew to SR45.8 billion compared to SR42 billion in September 2020, mainly due to higher imports of machinery, electrical equipment, and chemical products. Compared to August 2021, imports fell by SR5.7 billion riyals, or 11 percent, according to GASTAT.