Saudi Trade Surplus Climbs 60% to SAR 90.5 Billion in Q1 2026

Saudi Arabia recorded a trade surplus of SAR 90.5 billion during the first quarter of 2026, marking a 60% increase from the previous quarter and a 43.7% rise compared to the same period last year, according to the General Authority for Statistics.

The latest figures, published in the authority's March International Trade Bulletin, show the quarterly surplus increased by more than SAR 33.9 billion from SAR 56.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025. Compared with the first quarter of 2025, the surplus rose by more than SAR 27 billion.

Total international trade exceeded SAR 535 billion during the quarter, up 4.5% year-on-year. Merchandise exports reached approximately SAR 312.8 billion, while imports totalled around SAR 222.3 billion.

National exports, including petroleum and non-petroleum products, stood at SAR 274.5 billion. Re-exports surpassed SAR 38 billion, representing a 32.9% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

Asian countries remained the largest destination for Saudi exports, receiving goods worth more than SAR 229.2 billion during the quarter. Europe followed with over SAR 47 billion in imports from Saudi Arabia, while Africa and the Americas imported goods worth SAR 22.5 billion and SAR 12.6 billion respectively.

China remained the Kingdom's largest individual export market at SAR 44.8 billion. For non-oil exports, including re-exports, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah handled the highest value of shipments at SAR 17.5 billion, followed by Jeddah Islamic Port with more than SAR 12 billion.