RIYADH — Saudi Arabia recorded a trade surplus of SR154.72 billion during the first half of 2026, up from SR101.01 billion during the same period last year, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

The Kingdom’s trade surplus increased by 53.17 percent year-on-year, while the total value of foreign trade exceeded SR1 trillion. The growth was supported by a 7.3 percent increase in exports and a 2.7 percent decline in imports compared with the first half of 2025.

Saudi Arabia recorded particularly strong growth in its trade surplus during the first quarter, with March standing out as the biggest increase. The surplus in March jumped by approximately 213.7 percent to SR56.49 billion. During the second quarter, the Kingdom recorded a trade surplus of SR61.52 billion.

The total value of Saudi Arabia’s foreign merchandise trade reached SR1.052 trillion in the first half of 2026, compared with SR1.024 trillion during the corresponding period of 2025. This represents a 2.82 percent year-on-year increase.

February recorded the highest monthly value of foreign trade during the first half of the year, reaching SR183.17 billion, an increase of about 10.3 percent compared with the same month last year.

June recorded the lowest monthly trade value during the period at SR158.21 billion, marking a year-on-year decline of 3.86 percent.

For the second quarter of 2026, Saudi Arabia’s foreign trade totaled SR510.44 billion, compared with SR542.13 billion recorded during the first quarter.

The figures highlight the continued strength of Saudi Arabia’s external trade position, with rising exports and lower imports contributing to the Kingdom’s significantly higher trade surplus during the first half of the year.

Source:Saudi Gazette