RIYADH — Saudi merchandise exports increased 79.6 percent in July 2021, compared to July 2020, when international trade was affected by the travel ban in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The value of Saudi merchandise exports amounted to SR91.8 billion in July 2021, compared to SR51.1 billion in July 2020, according to the latest figures from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released on Wednesday. The Authority attributed the increase to the jump in petroleum exports, which rose by 112.1 percent or SR37.5 billion during the same period. Merchandise exports increased by 8.2 percent compared to June 2021, with a value of SR7 billion. On the other hand, non-oil exports recorded an increase of 17.9 percent in July 2021, to SR20.8 billion, compared to SR17.6 billion in July 2020. Of the most important non-oil goods, plastics, rubber and their derivatives represent 37.6 percent of the total non-oil exports, and increased by 47.7 percent or SR2.5 billion. Merchandise imports rose in July 2021 by 13.2 percent, or SR5.3 billion, to reach SR45.6 billion, compared to SR40.3 billion in July 2020.
