The world’s 27th richest country in terms of Gross Domestic Product per capita, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia imported US$131.3 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -9% decrease from $144.3 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Saudi Arabia’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Located in Western Asia, Saudi Arabia is the biggest Middle Eastern country by land area. It shares land borders with Jordan and Iraq to its north, Kuwait to its northeast, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to its east, Oman to its southeast and Yemen to its south. Saudi Arabian trade also benefits from coastlines along both the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Saudi imports during 2020 for each of Saudi Arabia’s top 10 supplier countries. In total, those leading trading partners approached two-thirds (63.5%) of total Saudi import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Saudi imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Saudi Arabia’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $26.5 billion or 20.2% of overall Saudi imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 82.2% of Saudi Arabia’s imports from the mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $7.2 billion
Machinery: $4.5 billion
Vehicles: $1.9 billion
Furniture, lighting, signs: $1.2 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $850.4 million
Ships, boats: $763.5 million
Plastics: $742.5 million
Iron or steel products: $698.9 million
Iron and steel: $696.9 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $685.6 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $651.1 million
Rubber: $642.9 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $496.9 million
Toys, games: $464.7 million
Footwear: $351.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Saudi imports from China under the medical or technical equipment product category via a 183.1% gain in revenue, miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing (up 133.1%), vehicles (up 46.8%), machinery (up 14.4%) then furniture, lighting and signs (up 9.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Saudi Arabia’s top 15 imported products were ships and boats (down -55.6%), footwear (down -34.4%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -33.2%), knitted and crocheted clothing (down -15.9%) then iron and steel as materials (down -15.6%).

Saudi Arabia’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, United States’ exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $14.1 billion or 10.7% of overall Saudi imports.

That dollar amount represents a -17.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.6% of Saudi Arabia’s imports from America.

Machinery: $2.6 billion
Vehicles: $1.7 billion
Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.6 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $845.5 million
Electronic equipment: $820.6 million
Pharmaceuticals: $739.5 million
Other chemical goods: $625 million
Plastics: $322.2 million
Oil seed: $296.7 million
Cereals: $277.1 million
Fruits, nuts: $237.4 million
Iron or steel products: $214.3 million
Organic chemicals: $183.4 million
Inorganic chemicals: $164.8 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $144.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Saudi imports from the United States under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 73.8% gain in revenue, inorganic chemicals (up 23.2%) and cereals (up 22%).

Posting the severest declines among Saudi Arabia’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -28%), medical or technical equipment (down -22%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -16.8%), oil seed (down -16%), machinery (down -15.5%) and vehicles (down -14.7%).

Saudi Arabia’s Main Imports from the UAE

In 2020, the United Arab Emirates’ exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $9 billion or 6.8% of overall Saudi imports.

That dollar amount represents a -13.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 68.9% of Saudi Arabia’s imports from the United Arab Emirates.

Gems, precious metals: $966.1 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $935.6 million
Copper: $780.2 million
Iron and steel: $513.5 million
Plastics: $428.2 million
Machinery: $425.9 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $316 million
Iron or steel products: $304.5 million
Aluminum: $290.9 million
Ships, boats: $249.6 million
Paper: $235 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $202.9 million
Electronic equipment: $201.4 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $176.8 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $162.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Saudi imports from the United Arab Emirates under the iron and steel as materials product category via an 81.8% gain in revenue and mineral fuels including oil (up 20.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Saudi Arabia’s top 15 imported products were gems and precious metals (down -53.7%), machinery (down -52.8%), ships and boats (down -43.5%), products made from iron or steel (down -23%), electronic equipment (down -14.1%) and copper (down -14%).

Saudi Arabia’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $6.8 billion or 5.2% of overall Saudi imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 85.9% of Saudi Arabia’s imports from Germany.

Machinery: $1.3 billion
Vehicles: $1.2 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $1 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $440.4 million
Electronic equipment: $413.9 million
Other chemical goods: $308.3 million
Plastics: $226.7 million
Iron or steel products: $223 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $171.3 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $136.7 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $122.8 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $95.5 million
Tobacco: $81.5 million
Organic chemicals: $79.3 million
Aluminum: $74 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Saudi imports from Germany under the cereal or milk preparations product category via a 43.8% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 32%), dairy, eggs and honey (up 13%), pharmaceuticals (up 12%) and products made from iron or steel (up 11.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Saudi Arabia’s top 15 imported products were tobacco (down -41.2%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -24.2%) and organic chemicals (down -20.4%).

Saudi Arabia’s Main Imports from India

In 2020, India’s exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $6.4 billion or 5.2% of overall Saudi imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78.2% of Saudi Arabia’s imports from India.

Cereals: $1.1 billion
Vehicles: $633.2 million
Organic chemicals: $496.5 million
Machinery: $371 million
Ceramic products: $361.2 million
Electronic equipment: $354.7 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $303.4 million
Iron or steel products: $287.8 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $283.4 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $179.5 million
Ships, boats: $138 million
Plastics: $122.4 million
Iron and steel: $122.3 million
Fruits, nuts: $109 million
Meat: $108.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Saudi imports from India under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 165.3% gain in revenue, ships and boats (up 132.5%), ceramic products (up 35.5%) then products made from iron or steel (up 15.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Saudi Arabia’s top 15 imported products were unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -38.6%), electronic equipment (down -30.1%), fruits and nuts (down -23.8%) then iron and steel as materials (down -9.7%).

Saudi Arabia’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $5.7 billion or 4.3% of overall Saudi imports.

That dollar amount represents a -13.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.7% of Saudi Arabia’s imports from Japan.

Vehicles: $3.5 billion
Machinery: $593.9 million
Rubber: $239.8 million
Iron or steel products: $231.2 million
Iron and steel: $199.3 million
Electronic equipment: $160 million
Medical, technical equipment: $132.6 million
Ships, boats: $93.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $73 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $63.6 million
Plastics: $59.5 million
Other chemical goods: $45.4 million
Organic chemicals: $33.6 million
Man-made staple fibers: $33.3 million
Man-made filaments: $22.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Saudi imports from Japan under the tanning or dyeing extracts product category via a 249.5% gain in revenue, ships and boats (up 98.2%), pharmaceuticals (up 47.3%), iron and steel as materials (up 46.8%) and man-made staple fibers (up 19%).

Posting the severest declines among Saudi Arabia’s top 15 imported products were organic chemicals (down -41.3%), man-made filaments (down -38.6%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -38.1%), plastics as a material (down -35.2%), electronic equipment (down -28.9%) and medical or technical equipment (down -24.1%).

Saudi Arabia’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $4.1 billion or 3.1% of overall Saudi imports.

That dollar amount represents a -5.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.5% of Saudi Arabia’s imports from Italy.

Machinery: $1.3 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $281.1 million
Electronic equipment: $273.5 million
Iron or steel products: $225.3 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $175 million
Medical, technical equipment: $138.5 million
Vehicles: $122.5 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $118.3 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $101.2 million
Other chemical goods: $91.7 million
Plastics: $77.1 million
Gems, precious metals: $69.8 million
Stone, plaster, cement: $69.5 million
Fruits, nuts: $62.4 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $59.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Saudi imports from Italy under the stone, plaster and cement product category via a 107.8% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 35.1%), gems and precious metals (up 31.6%) then cereal or milk preparations (up 9.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Saudi Arabia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -37.2%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -24.2%), fruits and nuts (down -23.6%), plastics as materials (down -20.3%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -19.4%) and articles made from leather or animal gut (down -15.5%).

Saudi Arabia’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $4.1 billion or 3.1% of overall Saudi imports.

That dollar amount represents a -19.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 61.2% of Saudi Arabia’s imports from France.

Pharmaceuticals: $587.8 million
Machinery: $383.3 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $346.9 million
Electronic equipment: $213.6 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $145.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $135.1 million
Meat: $105.8 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $99.4 million
Gems, precious metals: $91.2 million
Vehicles: $83.9 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $73.4 million
Other chemical goods: $72.4 million
Plastics: $60 million
Iron or steel products: $47.1 million
Cereals: $39 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Saudi imports from France under the cereals product category via a 126.6% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 53%) then vehicles (up 27.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Saudi Arabia’s top 15 imported products were electronic equipment (down -56.2%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -46.8%), machinery (down -26.8%), medical or technical equipment (down -23.6%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -18.9%) and items made from iron or steel (down -18.7%).

Saudi Arabia’s Main Imports from Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $3.8 billion or 2.9% of overall Saudi imports.

That dollar amount represents a -5.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 92.1% of Saudi Arabia’s imports from South Korea.

Vehicles: $1.6 billion
Machinery: $467.7 million
Electronic equipment: $341.8 million
Iron and steel: $291.2 million
Rubber: $172 million
Plastics: $146.5 million
Iron or steel products: $98.9 million
Organic chemicals: $94.9 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $69.5 million
Aluminum: $58.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $56.1 million
Other chemical goods: $51.1 million
Zinc: $36.3 million
Man-made filaments: $29.5 million
Paper: $28 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Saudi imports from South Korea under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 368% gain in revenue then iron and steel as materials (up 29%).

Posting the severest declines among Saudi Arabia’s top 15 imported products were man-made filaments (down -50.7%), organic chemicals (down -34.3%), items made from iron or steel products (down -20.8%), rubber (down -19.6%), paper (down -18.4%) and vehicles (down -9.4%).

Saudi Arabia’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, the United Kingdom’s exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $3 billion or 2.3% of overall Saudi imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 70.2% of Saudi Arabia’s imports from the United Kingdom.

Machinery: $506.7 million
Vehicles: $273 million
Pharmaceuticals: $257 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $188.7 million
Electronic equipment: $180.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $120.8 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $103.4 million
Other chemical goods: $80.9 million
Iron or steel products: $70.3 million
Plastics: $62.7 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $59.2 million
Iron and steel: $55.8 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $55.5 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $53.4 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $41.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Saudi imports from the United Kingdom under the iron and steel as materials product category via a 267.1% gain in revenue, unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (up 91.2%), cereal or milk preparations (up 25.7%) and plastics as a material (up 8.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Saudi Arabia’s top 15 imported products were medical or technical equipment (down -30.3%), machinery (down -27.5%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -26.2%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -19.8%), electronic equipment (down -16.8%) and vehicles (down -15.6%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Richest Country Reports, Top 50 Richest Countries by GDP per Capita

Wikipedia, Saudi Arabia, Borders of Saudi Arabia

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Saudi Arabia’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries