Saudi non-oil trade reaches 104.46b riyals

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's non-oil trade grew 22 per cent to 104.46 billion Saudi riyals last year compared to 85.52 billion riyals in 2006, according to government statistics.

The export volume rose 12 per cent to 39,693 tonnes last year, compared to 35,286 tonnes in 2006, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

The major exported commodities by the kingdom last year were petrochemicals, plastics, base and manufactured metals and re-export commodities.

The largest recipients of Saudi exports included the UAE, China, Kuwait and Qatar, respectively.

The Department of General Statistics and Information said the total value of imports last year increased by 29 per cent to 338.08 billion riyals last year.

The imports volume rose seven per cent to 50,181 tonnes in 2007 compared to the previous year.

The main commodities imported were electrical machines, equipment and tools, transport machines, base and manufactured metals and foodstuff.