Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabia’s imports fell 16.5%, whereas exports rose slightly by 1.02% in the first quarter of 2017, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
The value of the KSA’s imports reached SAR 118.6 billion in Q1-17, compared to SAR 141.9 billion in Q1-16, according to data complied by Mubasher.
The GCC state’s exports increased to SAR 42.98 billion in Q1-17, compared to SAR 42.54 billion in the year-ago period.
In March 2017, Saudi non-petroleum exports increased slightly 2.1% to reach SAR 16.34 billion.
In February, non-petroleum exports declined 8.8%, reaching SAR 12.62 billion.
In January 2017, non-petroleum exports surged 10.3% to SAR 14.02 billion, from SAR 12.71 billion in the same month in 2016.
On a year-on-year basis, commodity imports decreased 20.1% to reach SAR 38.65 billion, compared to SAR 48.37 billion.
In February, the value of Saudi Arabia’s imports dropped 17.9% to SAR 36.60 billion from SAR 44.56 billion in the corresponding month in the year before.
In January, KSA’s imports retreated 11.6% reaching SAR 43.3 billion, compared to SAR 49 billion in the same month in 2016.
