Browse Data and Analysis

Saudi regulations allow the importation of biotech plant products, but they are required to be labeled if they contain more than one percent genetically engineered (GE) plant ingredients.

Saudi Arabia is a 20th largest importer of U.S. food and agricultural products in the world, with direct U.S. exports of $1.23 billion in 2020. Return to semi-normal living conditions are invigorating U.S. agricultural exports to the Kingdom as supported by the U.S. Customs data for January – August 2021 that show 16 percent increase compared to the same period in 2020.

Saudi Arabia’s barley imports for the first six months of MY2021/22 (July – Dec. 2021) is estimated at 2.8 million metric tons (MMT), a reduction of 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

Saudi regulations allow the importation of biotech plant products. However, they are required to be labeled if they contain more than one percent genetically engineered (GE) plant ingredients....

Saudi Arabia’s barley imports for MY2018/19 are estimated at 8.5 million MT, up by approximately 12 percent from the USDA’s official estimate of 7.6 million MT.

Chicken meat production in Saudi Arabia is expected to reach 650,000 MT in 2018, and is projected to increase to 700,000 MT in 2019.

So far this marketing year, the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) has issued two barley import tenders to import a total of 3.24 million MT of barley for arrivals from July to October 2018....

The Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) has concluded its barley purchases for marketing year (MY) 2017/18.

The Saudi food processing sector has been rapidly growing due to government support of food processers, rising per capita income and major demographic and socio-economic changes.

Saudi corn imports in marketing year (MY) 2017/18 are forecast to increase by 15 percent, to about 4 million MT.

Saudi Arabia’s barley imports for marketing year (MY) 2017/18 are estimated at 8 million MT, about 6 percent lower than the official USDA estimate of 8.5 million MT.

Two retailers started online sales of perishable products in 2017, and Saudi Arabia’s retail sector continues to grow rapidly.