Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabia's non-oil merchandise exports to the GCC nations fell SAR 127 million, or 1.6%, year-on-year in the first quarter of 2018.
Exports amounted to SAR 8.02 billion in Q1-18, compared to SAR 8.1 billion in Q1-17, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics’ (GASTAT) quarterly report.
The kingdom’s imports from the GCC countries jumped about SAR 4 billion, or 35.1%, to SAR 15.3 billion in the first three months of 2018, compared to SAR 11.3 billion in the corresponding period in the year before.
The GCC nation registered a deficit of SAR 7.3 billion in its bilateral trade with the GCC states during Q1-18, GASTAT added.
The UAE was the top destination for Saudi exports with SAR 7.1 billion ($1.9 billion), while the kingdom's imports from its GCC neighbour stood at SAR 12.31 billion ($3.3 billion).
