Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabia’s merchandise imports inched up by 1.3% year-on-year in June, data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) revealed on Monday.

The kingdom’s imports amounted to SAR 37.74 billion by the end of June, compared to SAR 37.27 billion in June 2018.

On a monthly basis, imports of the GCC nation plunged by 12.4% in June.

By the end of June, imports of the vehicles and associated transport equipment sector topped the list adding 50%, hitting SAR 8.6 billion, followed by the products of the chemical or allied industries sector with 7.7%, recording SAR 3.88 billion.

Meanwhile, imports of the vegetable products sector headed the decliners falling 37.3%, hitting SAR 1.46 billion, data showed.

China is the top exporter of Saudi Arabia with SAR 7.45 billion, registering a 29.2% year-on-year increase, while France came second with SAR 1.96 billion.