Riyadh – Mubasher: The value of Saudi imports decreased 19.8% to reach SAR 525.64 billion in 2016, compared to SAR 655.03 billion in 2015, the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) said.

Year-on-year, the weight of imported goods fell 8.9% to 76.7 million tonnes, from 84.2 million tonnes, the GASTAT added.

The US was the largest exporter to Saudi Arabia, whose imports from the country represented 14.8% of total imports in 2016.

Saudi Arabia imported goods worth SAR 77.73 billion in 2016, down 13.3% or SAR 11.95 billion from figures reported for 2015

Machinery, mechanical appliances, and electrical equipment topped the kingdom's imports of 2016 with 24%.

KSA's imports of machinery, mechanical appliances, and electrical equipment amounted to SAR 129.33 million in 2016, down 27.9% from figures reported for 2015.