Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) was 3.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Ores and metals imports in Saudi Arabia, 1968–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 3.1% for ores and metals imports in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.4% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in Saudi Arabia peaked at 5.5% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1969.
Saudi Arabia ranks 47th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 0.7% | — |
| 1969 | 0.6% | -16.0% |
| 1974 | 0.9% | +56.5% |
| 1975 | 0.9% | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 0.8% | -12.9% |
| 1977 | 0.8% | +8.7% |
| 1978 | 0.8% | -7.4% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | +13.4% |
| 1980 | 1.1% | +31.2% |
| 1981 | 1.0% | -16.0% |
| 1982 | 0.9% | -7.9% |
| 1983 | 1.1% | +24.5% |
| 1984 | 1.2% | +9.2% |
| 1985 | 1.2% | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 1.4% | +21.7% |
| 1987 | 1.5% | +8.7% |
| 1991 | 2.4% | +52.0% |
| 1992 | 2.1% | -9.7% |
| 1993 | 3.3% | +54.9% |
| 1994 | 3.6% | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 3.5% | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 3.4% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | -17.9% |
| 1999 | 3.0% | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 3.1% | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | -12.5% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 3.8% | +40.8% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | +12.1% |
| 2006 | 5.1% | +20.5% |
| 2007 | 4.7% | -7.8% |
| 2008 | 5.0% | +6.0% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | -25.3% |
| 2010 | 5.0% | +34.0% |
| 2011 | 5.5% | +10.1% |
| 2012 | 4.9% | -10.1% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | -11.8% |
| 2014 | 4.5% | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | -22.7% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | +16.3% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | -6.7% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | -26.7% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | +25.4% |
| 2021 | 2.9% | -6.3% |
| 2022 | 2.9% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.0% | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 2.9% | -2.6% |
| 2025 | 3.1% | +6.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 3.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.2%, 1.4× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 3.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.2%, 1.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 6 |
| 1980s | 1.2% | 0.9% | 1.5% | 8 |
| 1990s | 3.0% | 2.1% | 3.6% | 8 |
| 2000s | 3.8% | 2.7% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 2.5% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 2.9% | 3.1% | 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)
- 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 ores and metals imports in Saudi Arabia?
- Ores and metals imports in Saudi Arabia was 3.1% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 2011.
- What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1969.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for ores and metals imports?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 47th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. 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 imports (% of merchandise imports). 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). Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. 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.