Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) was 1.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Ores and metals exports in Saudi Arabia, 1968–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2025, ores and metals exports in Saudi Arabia stood at 1.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.6% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in Saudi Arabia peaked at 2.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1974.
That places Saudi Arabia 138th out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 0.0% | — |
| 1969 | 0.0% | -16.9% |
| 1974 | 0.0% | -74.0% |
| 1975 | 0.0% | +74.9% |
| 1976 | 0.0% | -42.0% |
| 1977 | 0.0% | +32.4% |
| 1978 | 0.1% | +1187.2% |
| 1979 | 0.1% | -45.7% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | -25.8% |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -59.5% |
| 1982 | 0.0% | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | +355.6% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | +107.6% |
| 1992 | 0.5% | +126.3% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | -21.3% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | -18.9% |
| 1995 | 0.6% | +61.5% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | -46.2% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | +66.2% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -48.2% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | -43.9% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | +36.5% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | +11.0% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | -18.3% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -20.6% |
| 2006 | 0.2% | +59.9% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | +29.5% |
| 2008 | 0.2% | -21.8% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | -33.4% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | -20.9% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | +13.2% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | +191.3% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | +90.7% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | +71.3% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | +7.9% |
| 2017 | 1.4% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 1.2% | -12.5% |
| 2019 | 1.3% | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 2.0% | +55.8% |
| 2021 | 1.6% | -18.5% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | -6.2% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 1.9% | +25.2% |
| 2025 | 1.2% | -33.6% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 1.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.7%, 46% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 1.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.5%, 50% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +1187.2% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1985 | +355.6% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 6 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 4 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 8 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.1% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More energy & mining data for Saudi Arabia
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 4.5% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 3.1% (2025)
- Fuel exports 78.7% (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 ores and metals exports in Saudi Arabia?
- Ores and metals exports in Saudi Arabia was 1.2% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1974.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for ores and metals exports?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 138th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. 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 Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Ores and metals comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 27 (crude fertilizer, minerals nes); 28 (metalliferous ores, scrap); and 68 (non-ferrous metals). Exports of services are services provided by residents to non-residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-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.