Saudi Industry Leads Growth of Non-Oil Exports and Strengthens Global Presence

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is confidently advancing to establish its position as a powerful industrial and export force. Today, "Saudi Industry" stands out as one of the most important drivers of economic growth, supported by distinctive national programs, advanced infrastructure, and effective government integration. Record figures for non-oil exports, expansion of international partnerships, and growing global market confidence in Saudi products all reflect a strategic transformation led by Saudi Vision 2030, whose theme is economic diversification and enhancing global competitiveness. The pillars of the national industry come together in a unique experience that embodies the Kingdom’s strength, deep capabilities, and broad manufacturing ecosystem.

Saudi industry has continued to strengthen its presence in local and global markets, relying on the development of product quality and increased competitiveness, reflecting the success of industrial policies and supporting national programs. The "Made in Saudi" program, launched in 2021 under the gracious patronage of the Crown Prince, is one of the most prominent enablers of this transformation, embodying the Kingdom’s ambition to build a leading industrial base whose products enjoy global consumer trust by supporting innovation, national talents, and enabling companies to expand and access international markets.

In this context, the Saudi Export-Import Bank has contributed to expanding non-oil exports by providing credit facilities exceeding 100 billion Saudi Riyals since its establishment in 2020 until the end of last September, including more than 5 billion Riyals to global trading houses active in over 150 markets, which has enhanced the flow of national exports worldwide.

Non-oil exports recorded a record performance, reaching 515 billion Riyals in 2024, and achieved the highest half-year value in their history at 307 billion Riyals in the first half of 2025, confirming the industrial sector’s role as a fundamental pillar for diversifying the national economy. The Saudi Export Development Authority also continued its role in facilitating the access of national products to foreign markets by signing 108 export agreements, registering 433 new importers on the "Import from Saudi" platform, and licensing 9 export houses whose services reached 21 countries, achieving exports worth 390 million Riyals during the elapsed period of 2025.

In a related context, re-export exports rose to 61 billion Riyals in 2024, achieving a growth rate of 23%, driven by the strength of logistical infrastructure, accelerated service development, and integration between government entities. The Kingdom’s trade balance recorded a surplus of 30.6 billion Riyals in February 2025, the highest in nine months, while the total volume of international trade reached about 156.9 billion Riyals, with an annual growth rate of 4%. The value of merchandise exports reached 93.7 billion Riyals compared to imports of 63.2 billion Riyals, with Asian markets continuing to dominate the list of trading partners, led by China, South Korea, and the UAE as the top importers of Saudi exports.

According to the May 2025 Merchandise International Trade Statistics Bulletin issued by the General Authority for Statistics, non-oil exports "including re-exports" increased by 6.0% to reach 31.1 billion Riyals compared to the same month last year. The value of merchandise exports reached 90.4 billion Riyals, while imports in May 2025 rose to 80.9 billion Riyals, an increase of 7.8% over May of the previous year, according to the same bulletin.

The bulletin indicated that "machinery, electrical appliances, equipment, and their parts" are among the most important non-oil export goods, reaching 7.4 billion Riyals and constituting 23.7% of total non-oil exports. They were also the largest imported goods, recording a value of 24.0 billion Riyals, representing 29.7% of total imports. The People’s Republic of China is the Kingdom’s main partner in merchandise trade, with exports to China reaching 12.7 billion Riyals, representing 14.0% of total exports in May 2025, and imports from China amounting to 23.4 billion Riyals, representing 28.9% of total imports in May 2025.

Recent data revealed that the value of the Kingdom’s non-oil exports during the first half of 2025 reached 307 billion Riyals, recording the highest half-year growth. Saudi Vision 2030 has contributed through its programs and initiatives to charting the path for record performance and continuous growth of non-oil exports in recent years, supporting local content, enhancing the quality and competitiveness of Saudi products, and increasing their reach to various global markets. The "Made in Saudi" program continues to achieve qualitative leaps since its launch in 2021, with 19,000 national products bearing the "Made in Saudi" label, strengthening the presence of local products in domestic and international markets and contributing to the growth of the national economy in line with Vision 2030 targets. The program currently includes 3,700 registered national companies, exporting their products to 180 countries, with total exports reaching about 515 billion Riyals in 2024.

To raise the readiness of Saudi exporters, the Saudi Export Development Authority aims to enable them to face global challenges by providing necessary information, developing their capabilities through training programs and targeted consultations, and solving the challenges they face. This goal is measured by the cumulative number of companies participating in training programs. The baseline was 1,160 companies in 2020, and the actual number of companies participating in training programs in 2024 reached 1,382 companies, with targets of 1,300 companies for 2024, 1,400 companies for 2025, and 1,600 companies for 2026. The Authority also works to provide new export opportunities by organizing international exhibitions and trade missions to enhance efforts to promote Saudi exports. This goal is measured by the actual and targeted values of international exhibitions and trade missions. The baseline was 21 exhibitions and missions in 2020, with targets to organize 31 exhibitions and missions in 2024, 35 in 2025, and 42 by 2026. The Authority organized 36 exhibitions and missions in 2024.