Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports) was 72.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Manufactures imports in Saudi Arabia, 1968–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2025, manufactures imports in Saudi Arabia stood at 72.1%.
That represents a change of up 2.2% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, manufactures imports in Saudi Arabia peaked at 86.2% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 64.8%, in 1968.
That places Saudi Arabia 36th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 64.8% | — |
| 1969 | 68.1% | +5.0% |
| 1974 | 76.3% | +12.1% |
| 1975 | 81.2% | +6.4% |
| 1976 | 83.6% | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 85.7% | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 86.2% | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 84.4% | -2.0% |
| 1980 | 82.4% | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 82.6% | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 84.6% | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 85.0% | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 80.9% | -4.8% |
| 1985 | 82.3% | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 80.0% | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 74.6% | -6.7% |
| 1991 | 78.4% | +5.0% |
| 1992 | 81.5% | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 81.9% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 79.8% | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 75.0% | -6.1% |
| 1996 | 73.9% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 74.9% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 74.1% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 73.2% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 76.9% | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 78.2% | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 78.6% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 78.0% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 78.5% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 79.8% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 80.4% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 78.6% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 79.6% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 77.0% | -3.3% |
| 2011 | 76.7% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 78.3% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 76.3% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 76.2% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 74.8% | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 72.1% | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 70.2% | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 68.4% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 71.7% | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 70.5% | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 68.7% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 67.0% | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 68.8% | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 70.5% | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 72.1% | +2.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 72.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 67.4%, 1.1× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 72.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 57.3%, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 66.5% | 64.8% | 68.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 82.9% | 76.3% | 86.2% | 6 |
| 1980s | 81.6% | 74.6% | 85.0% | 8 |
| 1990s | 77.4% | 73.9% | 81.9% | 8 |
| 2000s | 78.2% | 73.2% | 80.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.2% | 68.4% | 78.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.6% | 67.0% | 72.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More private sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Merchandise trade 44.2% (2025)
- Food imports 12.3% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 254.06 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 122.08 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 2.2% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 16.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 310.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 66.92 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 8,403 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2433 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is manufactures imports in Saudi Arabia?
- Manufactures imports in Saudi Arabia was 72.1% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest manufactures imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 86.2% in 1978.
- What is the lowest manufactures imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.8% in 1968.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for manufactures imports?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 36th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is manufactures imports rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Manufactures imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Manufactures comprise commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 5 (chemicals), 6 (basic manufactures), 7 (machinery and transport equipment), and 8 (miscellaneous manufactured goods), excluding division 68 (non-ferrous metals). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.