The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Saudi Arabia’s import purchases during 2019. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Saudi Arabia.

1. Machinery including computers: US$16.8 billion (11.7% of total imports)
2. Vehicles: $15 billion (10.4%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $14.4 billion (10%)
4. Ships, boats: $5.5 billion (3.8%)
5. Pharmaceuticals: $5.3 billion (3.7%)
6. Iron, steel: $4.2 billion (2.9%)
7. Mineral fuels including oil: $3.9 billion (2.7%)
8. Articles of iron or steel: $3.8 billion (2.6%)
9. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $3.8 billion (2.6%)
10. Gems, precious metals: $3.6 billion (2.5%)

Saudi Arabia’s top 10 imports accounted for 52.8% of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Iron or steel posted the fastest-growing increase in value among the top 10 import categories, up by 32.1% from 2018 to 2019. In second place for higher purchases was the ships and boats category thanks to its 26.6% gain. The vehicles category was close behind up 26.1%.

Gems and precious metals incurred the severest drop among the top 10 Saudi imports, falling -12.4% year over year weighed down by diminishing international revenues for exported gold.

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under other virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.

In 2019, Saudi importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$1.8 billion (up 23.5% from 2018)
2. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.4 billion (down -15.8%)
3. Air conditioners: $1.2 billion (up 25.2%)
4. Machinery parts: $1.2 billion (down -1.1%)
5. Liquid pumps and elevators: $873.5 million (up 0.9%)
6. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $777.8 million (up 12.3%)
7. Piston engines: $756.6 million (up 71.6%)
8. Air or vacuum pumps: $720.4 million (up 1.1%)
9. Move/grade/scrape/boring machinery: $695 million (up 461.4%)
10. Turbo-jets: $681.4 million (down -17.5%)

Among these import subcategories, Saudi purchases of moving, grading, scraping or boring machinery (up 461.4%), piston engines (up 71.6%) then air conditioners (up 25.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2019.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Saudi businesses and consumers.

In 2019, Saudi importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic products.

1. Phone system devices including smartphones: US$7.2 billion (up 13.1% from 2018)
2. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $662.3 million (up 4%)
3. Insulated wire/cable: $573.2 million (down -16.6%)
4. Electrical converters/power units: $496 million (down -5.5%)
5. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $435.4 million (up 6.5%)
6. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $417.8 million (down -3.6%)
7. Electric storage batteries: $369.5 million (up 13.1%)
8. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $326.5 million (up 19.3%)
9. Radar, radio communication items: $304.2 million (down -13.7%)
10. Microphones/headphones/amps: $292.9 million (up 32.6%)

Among these import subcategories, Saudi purchases of microphones, headphones and amplifiers (up 32.6%), electrical or optical circuit boards and panels (up 19.3%) then electric storage batteries (up 13.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2019.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Saudi businesses and consumers.

In 2019, Saudi importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$10.9 billion (up 22.8% from 2018)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $1.3 billion (up 39%)
3. Trucks: $964 million (up 11%)
4. Public-transport vehicles: $872.7 million (up 80.4%)
5. Trailers: $258.8 million (up 27.5%)
6. Tractors: $214.8 million (up 499.9%)
7. Special purpose vehicles: $160.3 million (down -20.4%)
8. Work trucks: $55.1 million (down -22.2%)
9. Motorcycles: $41 million (up 30.5%)
10. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $39.8 million (up 9%)

Among these import subcategories, Saudi purchases of tractors (up 499.9%), public-transport vehicles (up 80.4%) then automobile parts or accessories (up 39%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2019.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Saudi businesses and consumers.

In 2019, Saudi importers spent the most on the following subcategories of ships and boats.

1. Light vessels, fire boats, floating docks: US$3.6 billion (up 52.2% from 2018)
2. Tugboats, pusher craft: $987.5 million (up 37.2%)
3. Warships, lifeboats: $618.2 million (down -29.4%)
4. Cruise/cargo ships, barges: $249.3 million (down -25.1%)
5. Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels: $20.3 million (down -16.6%)
6. Rafts, other floating structures: $9.6 million (down -40.2%)
7. Fishing vessels, factory ships: $1.3 million (up 152.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Saudi purchases of fishing vessels and factory ships (up 152.2%), light vessels, fire boats and floating docks (up 52.2%) then tugboats including pusher craft (up 37.2%) grew from 2018 to 2019.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported pharmaceuticals among Saudi businesses and consumers.