Saudi exports of chemical industry products rose to 82.3 billion riyals in 2025, with an annual growth of 5% compared to 2024. This figure reflects the strength of the Saudi chemical sector despite global challenges.
What exactly happened?
According to the latest data from the General Authority for Statistics, the Kingdom’s exports of chemical industry products amounted to approximately 82.3 billion riyals in 2025, up 5% from the previous year.
These exports accounted for 22.5% of the Kingdom’s total non-oil exports, which reached 366.1 billion riyals during the same period. This means that nearly one-fifth of non-oil exports depend on chemical products.
Who are the biggest buyers?
India leads the list of countries importing Saudi chemical products, with a value of 17.6 billion riyals (21.4% of the total), followed by China at around 11.1 billion riyals (13.5%).
The list of the top importing countries includes:
- India — 17.6 billion riyals (21.4%)
- China — 11.1 billion riyals (13.5%)
- UAE — 4.5 billion riyals (5.5%)
- Belgium — 3.9 billion riyals (4.8%)
- Australia — 3.0 billion riyals (3.6%)
- United States — 2.8 billion riyals (3.4%)
- Turkey — 2.8 billion riyals (3.4%)
- Brazil — 2.7 billion riyals (3.3%)
- Thailand — 2.7 billion riyals (3.2%)
- Bangladesh — 2.6 billion riyals (3.1%)
- Other countries — 28.6 billion riyals (34.7%)
Notably, India and China account for more than one-third of Saudi chemical sector exports, reflecting the depth of economic ties with Asia.
What about imports?
Surprisingly, the Kingdom’s imports of chemical products also rose to around 80.6 billion riyals in 2025, an increase of 2% from the previous year.
This means that the Kingdom remains a net exporter of chemical products (exporting more than it imports), though the gap is narrowing:
| Year | Import Value | Change |
| 2023 | 71.05 billion riyals | — |
| 2024 | 78.63 billion riyals | +11% |
| 2025 | 80.57 billion riyals | +2% |
What does this mean for the average citizen?
These figures are not just numbers in government reports — they have a direct impact on our daily lives:
- New job opportunities for Saudis
- Economic diversification: The presence of non-oil exports of this magnitude indicates that Vision 2030 is moving in the right direction in reducing reliance on oil
- Riyal strength: Strong exports support the balance of payments and maintain economic stability
- Investments: Profits of chemical companies (such as SABIC) are reflected in dividend distributions to shareholders and the Public Investment Fund
Challenges we need to watch out for
Not everything is rosy in the sector:
- An 11% increase in chemical imports in 2024 and 2% in 2025 shows that the local market relies heavily on imports
- Export growth of just 5% is considered slow compared to previous periods when growth exceeded 10%
- International competition in the petrochemicals sector is intensifying, particularly from China and the United States
Conclusion
Saudi chemical product exports continue to grow, and this is good news for the Saudi economy in general. The sector remains a key pillar in non-oil exports, and the expansion into Asian markets (particularly India and China) offers optimism for a better future.
The biggest challenge is accelerating growth to reach levels higher than 5% and supporting local manufacturing industries to increase added value rather than exporting raw materials only.
For the average citizen: This sector represents one of the pillars of Saudi Arabia’s new economy. Its strength means a more stable economy and better job opportunities. As we always say — a strong economy equals a better life for everyone.
