Saudi Customs revealed that the total value of imported goods to the country in 2010 increased by 12% from 2009 to reach SAR 400.8 billion (US$107 billion), compared to SAR 358.4 billion (US$95.6 billion) from the previous year. The year’s total value of exports reached SAR 117.7 billion (USD 31.38 billion) compared to SAR 88 billion in 2009, up 34%, whilst the total number of cars and trucks re-exported in 2010 increased by 600,000 vehicles from 2009 to reach approximately 16.7 million vehicles, up 2.2%.
Jeddah Islamic Port tops the list in value of imports, standing at SAR 160 billion, with exports at SAR 22 billion. King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam came in second place with imports at SAR 82 billion weighing 15.7 million tons, and exports valuing SAR 16 billion weighing 4.8 million tons. These two ports represent 61% of total imports to the country. Customs data in all branches reached almost 2.9 million spread over imports, exports and transit goods.
Total customs seizures reached the following amounts: drugs (cannabis, heroin, cocaine and others)- 7.3 tons, narcotic pills- 31.2 million tons, alcohol- 158,000 units, weapons 1,115 units, counterfeit goods- 15 million items, and 6,501 cases of restricted export goods. In 2010 Saudi Customs concentrated its efforts in putting a stop to counterfeit goods entering the country, with the result that it headed the list of the 177 member states of the World Customs Organization in the number of seizures excluding cars in 2009/10. Saudi Customs also achieved sixth place in computer, mobile phones and accessories seizures and seventh for textiles. This reflects positively on the country’s international status in combating commercial fraud and counterfeit goods, as well as protection for intellectual rights. Non-port exports totalled 61% of the country’s total value of exports. Non-oil exports reached SAR 57.6 billion, 49% of the year’s exports of SAR 117.7 billion.
The annual customs report also recorded the top 20 countries in terms of exports and import to Saudi Arabia. China came in first with SAR 13.4 billion worth of Saudi exports to China, while receiving SAR 46.8 billion of imports. The UAE received the second highest value of Saudi exports at SAR 13.1 billion, while imports to Saudi reached SAR 14 billion. Singapore came in fourth place importing SAR 7.9 billion worth of non-oil products and exporting SAR 2.2 billion worth of products to Saudi Arabia. (Source: www.yallafinance.com)
