Saudi Arabia recorded a merchandise trade surplus of $3.8 billion according to official government figures. China remained the primary international destination for Saudi exports in July at 13.4 percent, while the UAE ranked second.
Chinese institutional holdings of Gulf debt reached nearly $14 billion as of mid-2025, according to International Monetary Fund figures. The UAE represents the largest regional share at $7.8 billion, followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
China's sulphur imports dropped 65 percent year-on-year in August 2026 to roughly 277,300 tonnes amid Middle East maritime logistics disruptions, according to customs data. The resulting shortage drove average import prices up by nearly 246 percent. Despite broad regional shipping constraints, the UAE, South Korea, and Canada supplied 80 percent of total August imports.
Saudi Arabia posted a merchandise trade surplus of SR14.36 billion ($3.83 billion) in July, down 25 percent year-on-year, according to preliminary official statistics. Both exports and imports declined amid logistics route adjustments, while China, the UAE, and Egypt ranked among the kingdom's top trading partners.
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