Saudi Arabia
U.S. Trade with Saudi Arabia in 2022
Export Market Rank
#20 Among U.S. Agricultural Export Markets
Total Export Value
$1.58 Billion
3-Year Average
$1.39 Billion
Compound Average Growth
2.8% (2013-2022)
Total Export Value 2013 - 2022
Export Value by Commodity 2022
Top 10 Exports to Saudi Arabia in 2022
| Commodity | Total Value (USD) | Total Volume (Metric Tons) | 10-Year Average Value (USD) | 10-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | $247.85 Million | 763,084 | $212.73 Million | 161% |
| Tree Nuts | $152.29 Million | 23,016 | $105.04 Million | 174% |
| Hay | $140.55 Million | 304,560 | $84.44 Million | 1510% |
| Soybeans | $136.11 Million | 220,746 | $108.13 Million | 21% |
| Dairy Products | $123.62 Million | 28,409 | $104.94 Million | -26% |
| Rice | $68.04 Million | 74,542 | $90.45 Million | -41% |
| Processed Vegetables | $67.33 Million | 42,375 | $63.65 Million | 17% |
| Condiments & Sauces | $66.26 Million | 30,800 | $60.23 Million | 49% |
| Vegetable Oils (excl. soybean) | $64.23 Million | 38,425 | $82.83 Million | -43% |
| Planting Seeds | $51.36 Million | 7,028 | $47.2 Million | 5% |
Data and Analysis
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) 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. As a result, many retail packed food importers do not import biotech foods due to concerns that biotech labeling could jeopardize their product image. However, Saudi Arabia imports large quantities of biotech U.S. corn, soybeans, and their products.
Saudi Arabia’s barley imports for the first six months of MY 2022/23 (July – Dec. 2022) are estimated at 2.6 million metric tons (MMT), an increase of six percent compared to the same period last year. Post’s current projection for total barley imports for MY 2022/23 is 4.5 MMT, which is a decrease of four percent compared to the USDA official estimate of 4.7 MMT. Unless the price of barley drastically decreases, Post anticipates demand will remain low throughout MY 2022/23.
Saudi Arabia was a 24th largest market ($1.34 million) for U.S. food and agricultural products last year. A return to pre-Covid living and working conditions are invigorating U.S. agricultural exports to the Kingdom in 2022. U.S. Customs data for January – August 2022 shows an 11 percent increase in U.S. agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia compared to the same period in 2021.
News and Features
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2019—Private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture the following activity: Export sales of 126,000 metric tons of soybeans for delivery to China during the 2019/2020 marketing year; and Changes in destinations...
WASHINGTON, May 23, 2018—Private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture the following activity: Optional origin sales of 140,000 metric tons of corn for delivery to Saudi Arabia. Of the total 70,000 metric tons is for delivery...
March 22, 2017
Export Sales Announcement
Private Exporters Report Sales Activity for China and Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON, Mar. 22, 2017—Private exporters reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture the following activity: Export sales of 120,000 metric tons of hard red winter wheat for delivery to Saudi Arabia during the 2016/2017 marketing year; and...