Saudi Arabia's exports doubled in the second quarter year-on-year

Saudi Arabia's overall merchandise exports increased by 99.
4% in the second quarter of 2021 (Q2) compared to the second quarter of 2020, when international trade was affected
by Covid-related lockdowns and travel bans in many countries, according to a report by the Saudi News Agency.

Saudi exports reached 238.
6 billion riyals ($63.
61 billion) in the second quarter of this year, up from 119.
7 billion riyals
in the second quarter of 2020.

This increase came mainly from oil exports, which increased by 96.
5 billion riyals or 126.
1%
over the same period.
The share of oil exports in total exports increased from 63.
9% (Q2 2020) to 72.
5% (Q2 2021).

Compared to the previous quarter (first quarter of 2021), the total export of goods increased by 26.
1 billion riyals, or 12.
3%.

According to the International Trade Report of the General Statistics Office (GASTAT), non-oil exports increased by 52.
1% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2021, from SAR 43.
2 billion to SAR 65.
7 billion
.

Among the most important non-oil commodities, "Plastics and rubber and their products" (34.
3% of non-oil exports) increased by 63.
9% and "Chemical or related industrial products" (31% of non-oil exports) increased by 61.
9% (7.
8 billion riyals).

Compared to the previous quarter (first quarter of 2021), non-oil exports increased by SAR 5.
6 billion, or 9.
4%.

Imports from China amounted to SAR 25.
7 billion in the second quarter of 2021 (18.
2% of total imports), making it the largest source of Saudi Arabia's
imports.
It was followed by the UAE and the United States with imports of 13.
5 billion riyals (9.
6% of total imports) and 13.
1 billion riyals (9.
3% of total imports)
respectively.