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Saudi Arabia achieved a merchandise trade surplus of SAR 61.5 billion in the second quarter of 2026, marking a substantial 62% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, according to official data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Total merchandise exports for the quarter rose by 4% year-on-year to approximately SAR 285.98 billion, while total merchandise imports declined by 5% to SAR 224.46 billion.
The expansion in the trade balance was largely propelled by the oil sector, where oil exports registered a 9% year-on-year gain to reach SAR 203.42 billion. Conversely, non-oil exports experienced a 7% decline to SAR 82.6 billion compared to the second quarter of 2025. The overall trade performance reflects strong energy revenue backing, offsetting moderate soft spots in non-oil export shipments over the reported quarter.
These foreign trade dynamics underscore the continued resilience of the Kingdom's fiscal status, supported by solid global oil revenues. Going forward, economists and regional market followers will closely observe the progress of non-oil trade performance under Vision 2030 initiatives, alongside global crude market pricing, to gauge the sustainability of Saudi Arabia's trade surplus into upcoming quarters.
