Saudi Non-Oil Exports and Imports for the month of October, 2009

Riyadh, January 12, 2010, SPA -- The value of Saudi non-oil exports in October,
2009, totaled SR 9,437 million, showing a decline of 1% as compared to an
amount of SR 9, 519 million fetched during the same month in 2008. This figure
reflects an overall decrease that was valued at SR 76 million.


In terms of the volume of overall exports weightage, it witnessed a hike of
24%, accounting for 3,514,000 tons in October 2009 as compared to 2,836,000
tons in the same month the previous year. This figure shows a total increase of
about 678,000 tons.


A latest report of the Central Department of Statistics & Information (CDSI)
disclosed that petrochemicals topped the Kingdom's list of exports in October
(These accounted for 28% of exports - Valued at SR 2,680 Million). Plastic
products came second (25% of exports - Valued at SR 2,324 Million). It was
followed by Foodstuffs (9% of exports - valued at SR 843 Million). In addition,
16% of the re-exported commodities were worth SR 1,499 Million and 16% of a
number of other exports were valued at SR 1,516 Million.


CDSI also noted that the UAE topped the list of importers followed by China,
Qatar, Singapore and Jordan.


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


On the imports level, the Central Department Of Statistics & Information (CDSI)
reported that the total value of Saudi imports during the month of October,
2009, registered a 32% decrease accounting for about SR 27, 449 million as
compared to SR 40, 399 million during the same month in 2008, showing an
overall decline of SR 12, 950 million in terms of value.


Meanwhile, CDSI disclosed that the volume of the weightage of the imported
products showed a 28% decrease in October, 2009, accounting for 3, 482 Million
tons as compared to 4, 826 tons during the same month last year, with a total
decline of 1, 344 Million tons.


The main imported commodities were electrical machines, equipment and tools;
Foodstuffs; transport machines; base and manufactured metals, Petrochemicals,
Plastics and Textile.


USA came first as the Kingdom's major importer followed by China, Japan and
Germany.


At the level of groups, the Kingdom's import partners included non-Arab and
Muslim Asian States, The European Union, 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 11% to SR 1, 416 million as compared to SR 1, 588
Million in October of the previous Year, registering a total decline in value
of about SR172 Million.


The total value of exports of the Kingdom's non-oil exports to the GCC
countries in October, 2009 decreased by 13% to SR 2, 190 million as compared to
SR 2,503 million in the same month last year with a total decline of SR313
Million.


--SPA