Saudi Arabia Posts SAR 90.5 Billion Trade Surplus in Q1 2026, Up 43.7% Year on Year
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
RIYADH, June 29 (SABN) — Saudi Arabia's trade surplus reached SAR 90.5 billion in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 43.7% year-on-year increase from approximately SAR 63 billion recorded in the same period of 2025, the General Authority for Statistics reported in its International Trade Bulletin for March.
On a quarterly basis, the surplus rose 60%, climbing by more than SAR 33.9 billion from the SAR 56.5 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025. In March alone, the monthly surplus increased by 200.9% compared with February, when it stood at approximately SAR 19.1 billion.
Total international trade exceeded SAR 535 billion during the quarter, up 4.5% from SAR 512.3 billion in the corresponding period last year. Total merchandise exports reached SAR 312.8 billion, compared with imports of SAR 222.3 billion. National exports, comprising oil and non-oil shipments, totalled SAR 274.5 billion.
Re-exports surpassed SAR 38 billion in Q1 2026, a year-on-year increase of 32.9% from approximately SAR 28.8 billion in the same quarter of 2025.
Asian countries ranked first among destinations for Saudi exports, accounting for more than SAR 229.2 billion, followed by European countries at SAR 47 billion, African countries at SAR 22.5 billion, and the Americas at SAR 12.6 billion. China was the kingdom's largest single export market, with purchases valued at SAR 44.8 billion.
Non-oil exports, including re-exports, moved through 32 land, sea, and air customs ports, totalling more than SAR 86.1 billion. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah handled the largest share at SAR 17.5 billion, followed by Jeddah Islamic Port with exports exceeding SAR 12 billion.
Source: SPA
