Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) was 4.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Fuel imports in Saudi Arabia, 1968–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2025, fuel imports in Saudi Arabia stood at 4.5%.
The figure is down 20.2% on the previous year and up 544.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fuel imports in Saudi Arabia peaked at 7.5% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1992.
That places Saudi Arabia 178th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 1.1% | — |
| 1969 | 1.4% | +19.4% |
| 1974 | 1.0% | -25.5% |
| 1975 | 0.7% | -32.3% |
| 1976 | 0.7% | +8.4% |
| 1977 | 0.6% | -23.9% |
| 1978 | 0.7% | +18.9% |
| 1979 | 0.6% | -5.0% |
| 1980 | 0.6% | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | +13.5% |
| 1982 | 0.5% | -34.6% |
| 1983 | 0.5% | +8.2% |
| 1984 | 0.6% | +20.6% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | -18.5% |
| 1986 | 0.2% | -50.8% |
| 1987 | 0.3% | +4.6% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -47.5% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | +22.3% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | +23.2% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -13.8% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | -6.3% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | +10.7% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | -23.8% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | +36.8% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | +11.0% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 0.2% | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | +13.3% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | +66.7% |
| 2013 | 1.3% | +212.0% |
| 2014 | 1.5% | +13.2% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | -54.0% |
| 2016 | 1.2% | +78.2% |
| 2017 | 2.3% | +80.7% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | +35.5% |
| 2019 | 2.8% | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | +9.4% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | +56.6% |
| 2022 | 7.5% | +55.4% |
| 2023 | 7.4% | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 5.7% | -23.4% |
| 2025 | 4.5% | -20.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 4.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.0%, 50% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 4.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10.9%, 41% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +212.0% | 0.4% | 1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.2% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 6 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 8 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 8 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.4% | 0.2% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 3.1% | 7.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 175 Iraq 5.2% compare
- 176 Ireland 5.2% compare
- 177 Tajikistan 5.1% compare
- 179 United Arab Emirates 4.5% compare
- 180 Kazakhstan 4.4% compare
- 181 Argentina 4.0% compare
More energy & mining data for Saudi Arabia
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 3.1% (2025)
- Fuel exports 78.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 1.2% (2025)
- Gas production 1,338 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 38,695 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 1,338 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 38,695 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fuel imports in Saudi Arabia?
- Fuel imports in Saudi Arabia was 4.5% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest fuel imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.5% in 2022.
- What is the lowest fuel imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1992.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for fuel imports?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 178th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fuel imports rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 544.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fuels comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) section 3 (mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials). 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.