Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Agencies): Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports surged in September, with the UAE and India emerging as top destinations for the Kingdom’s goods. According to the General Authority for Statistics, the UAE was the leading recipient of non-oil exports, amounting to SR6.54 billion ($1.74 billion). The exports included mechanical and electrical equipment worth SR3.10 billion, transport parts valued at SR1.64 billion, and chemical products at SR375.8 million.
Bolstering non-oil exports is a key goal of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda, which aims to reduce the Kingdom’s dependence on crude oil revenues. Speaking at the World Investment Conference, Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim noted that non-oil activities now account for 52 percent of the Kingdom’s GDP, growing at 20 percent since the launch of Vision 2030.
In September, the Kingdom’s outbound shipments to the UAE also included plastic and rubber products worth SR345.9 million and live animals and animal products at SR149.6 million. India was another significant destination, receiving SR2.35 billion worth of non-oil products from Saudi Arabia, including chemical products and allied industries worth SR1.21 billion, plastic products at SR438.4 million, and jewelry valued at SR345.5 million.
China held the third spot for Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports, with inbound shipments valued at SR1.73 billion. Other notable destinations included Singapore (SR1.39 billion), Turkiye (SR973.4 billion), Belgium (SR964.7 billion), Egypt (SR862.8 billion), the US (SR743.2 billion), and Jordan (SR733.1 billion).
Overall, Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports increased by 22.8 percent year-on-year in September, reaching SR25.95 billion.