The total value of Saudi non-oil exports in May, 2009, showed a 23% decline, accounting for nearly SR 8,019 million compared to SR 10,351 million during the same month in the previous year (2008), showing an overall decrease of SR 2, 332 million. In the meantime, the overall volume of exports witnessed a 20% decrease, showing 3.14 million tons as compared to 3.92 Million tons in May of the last year, registering a total decrease of about 780,000 tons. According to a report of The Central Department of Statistics & Information (CDSI), petrochemicals topped the Kingdom's list of exports in May with a value of SR 2,260 Million, accounting for 28% of the total exports. Plastic products came second with an amount of SR 1, 612 Million, netting 20% of the total exports. These were followed by a number of other exports such as; base and manufactured metals, electric equipment as well as transport equipment. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) topped the list of importers from Saudi Arabia followed by China, Qatar, Kuwait and India. At the level of the groups, GCC topped the list of the Kingdom's export-partners followed by non-Arab and non-Islamic Asian States, the Arab states, the European Union and then non-Arab Islamic States, respectively. --MORE
