Saudi Non-Oil exports rise by 13 percent

Riyadh, September 08, SPA -- The non-petroleum exports during June,
2008 increased by 13 percent to SR 10, 473 million, compared to SR
9,293 million in the same month in 2007.


According to the statistics issued by the Department of General
Statistics and Information, the petrochemicals topped the exports
followed by plastics, ordinary minerals and their bi-products and
then the re-exported commodities.


As regards the Kingdom's imports during January, 2008, the imports
increased by 22 per cent to SR 32, 269 million. In the same period in
2007, the imports amounted to SR 26, 508 million.


The imports included machines, electrical devices and equipment,
transport equipment, ordinary minerals and their products and
foodstuffs.

The report of the general statistics and information said the UAE
topped the countries which received the Kingdom's exports last June.
It was followed by China and Qatar.


The member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) headed the
groups to which the Kingdom exported last June. They were followed by
the group of the non-Arab and Islamic Asian countries, and then by
the rest of the Arab countries.


The US topped the countries from which the Kingdom imported last
June. It was followed by China and Germany.


The countries of European Union headed the groups from which the
Kingdom imported. They were followed by the non-Arab and Islamic
Asian group and then by the countries of North America.


The Kingdom's non-petroleum exports to the GCC member states
increased last June by 25 percent to SR 2, 520 million. In June last
year they amounted to SR 2,015 million.