Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil imports retreated 17.9% in February 2017.

Non-oil imports reached SAR 36.6 billion ($9.76 billion) in February, compared to SAR 44.56 billion ($11.88 billion) in the year-ago period.

The non-oil imports value also decreased 15.5% or SAR 6.69 billion month-on-month in February, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.

Machinery and mechanical appliances, and electrical equipment declined 27.1% to SAR 9.03 billion in February from SAR 12.38 billion in the same month of the previous year.

Vehicles and associated transport equipment also levelled down 13.5% to reach SAR 6.3 billion in February 2017 compared to SAR 7.29 billion in February 2016.

Saudi imports from the GCC rose 3.3% year-on-year to SAR 3.43 billion in February from SAR 3.32 billion.

USA topped the partner countries for imports by around SAR 6.06 billion, while China came second with SAR 5.41 billion in February.