Saudi Arabia recorded a trade surplus of SAR90.5 billion in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, reflecting a strong year-on-year increase of 43.7%. This represents an expansion of more than SAR27 billion compared with the same period in 2025, when the surplus stood at approximately SAR63 billion, according to the International Trade Bulletin for March issued by the General Authority for Statistics.
On a quarterly basis, the trade surplus also saw significant growth, rising by 60% compared with Q4 2025. This equates to an increase of more than SAR33.9 billion, up from approximately SAR56.5 billion in the previous quarter. Monthly performance further reinforced this upward trend, as the surplus surged by 200.9% in March 2026, increasing by more than SAR38 billion compared with February, when it stood at approximately SAR19.1 billion.
Overall, Saudi Arabia’s total international trade exceeded SAR535 billion during Q1 2026, achieving year-on-year growth of 4.5%. This marks an increase of approximately SAR22.9 billion compared with Q1 2025, when total trade reached around SAR512.3 billion. Total merchandise exports during the quarter amounted to approximately SAR312.8 billion, compared with imports of around SAR222.3 billion. Within this, national exports—comprising both oil and non-oil exports—totaled SAR274.5 billion, highlighting continued strength in the Kingdom’s core export sectors.
The data also showed strong momentum in re-exports, which exceeded SAR38 billion in Q1 2026, reflecting year-on-year growth of 32.9%. This represents an increase of more than SAR9 billion compared with the same period last year, when re-exports stood at approximately SAR28.8 billion.
In terms of trading partners, Asian countries remained the largest destination for Saudi exports, accounting for more than SAR229.2 billion. European countries followed with over SAR47 billion, while African countries received approximately SAR22.5 billion, and countries in the Americas accounted for around SAR12.6 billion. China continued to be the Kingdom’s largest single export market during the quarter, with imports valued at SAR44.8 billion.
For non-oil exports, including re-exports, shipments passed through 32 land, sea, and air customs ports, reaching a total value exceeding SAR86.1 billion. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah ranked as the top export gateway, handling goods valued at SAR17.5 billion, followed by Jeddah Islamic Port, which processed exports exceeding SAR12 billion.
These results underscore the continued resilience and expansion of Saudi Arabia’s foreign trade sector, driven by growth in national exports and re-exports, alongside strengthening commercial ties with global trading partners and expanding international trade activity.
