Saudi non-oil export & import in May: CDSI Report

Riyadh, August 08, SPA -- The total value of Saudi non-oil exports in
May, 2009, showed a 23% decline, accounting for nearly SR 8,019
million compared to SR 10,351 million during the same month in the
previous year (2008), showing an overall decrease of SR 2, 332
million.

In the meantime, the overall volume of exports witnessed a 20%
decrease, showing 3.14 million tons as compared to 3.92 Million tons
in May of the last year, registering a total decrease of about
780,000 tons.

According to a report of The Central Department of Statistics &
Information (CDSI), petrochemicals topped the Kingdom's list of
exports in May with a value of SR 2,260 Million, accounting for 28%
of the total exports. Plastic products came second with an amount of
SR 1, 612 Million, netting 20% of the total exports. These were
followed by a number of other exports such as; base and manufactured
metals, electric equipment as well as transport equipment.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) topped the list of importers from
Saudi Arabia followed by China, Qatar, Kuwait and India.

At the level of the groups, GCC topped the list of the Kingdom's
export-partners followed by non-Arab and non-Islamic Asian States,
the Arab states, the European Union and then non-Arab Islamic States,
respectively.

The Central Department Of Statistics & Information CDSI said in its
report that the total value of the Kingdom's imports last year
decreased by 16 % to SR 29, 570 compared to SR 35,269 million in
2008, showing an overall decrease of SR 5, 699 Million.

The volume of imports also downed by 20 % to 3.64 Million tons
compared to 4.57 Million tons in the previous year, with an overall
decrease of 930,000 tons.

The main commodities imported during the past month were electrical
machines, equipment and tools, transport machines, base and
manufactured metals and foodstuffs.

The Kingdom's largest import partners included the United States,
China, Germany Japan and Italy, respectively.

At the level of groups, the Kingdom's import-partners included the
European Union States, non-Arab non-Muslim Asian States, North
American States, GCC and non-Arab Islamic States, respectively.

With regard to the trade between the Kingdom and the Gulf
Cooperation Council Countries, the report said that the value of the
national imports from the GCC countries decreased by 23% to SR 2,119
million compared to SR 2,761 million in the previous year, with an
over all decrease of SR 642 million.

The total value of exports of the Kingdom's non-oil exports to the
GCC countries in the month of May decreased by 6% to SR 1,497 million
compared to SR 1,589 million in the month of May the last year with
an over all decrease of SR 92 Million.

--SPA