Browse Data and Analysis

Over the past several years, Saudi Arabia published quite a few new regulations and standards, some of which were notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Unfortunately, many of these standards were notified and immediately implemented, missing the opportunity to engage with international stakeholders and making it difficult for U.S. exporters to adjust.

The major export certificates required by Saudi Arabia’s regulatory and import control agencies are included in this Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) - Certificates Report. These certificates are required for the importation of food and agricultural products into the Kingdom. Information in this report supplements the FAIRS Annual Country Report.

U.S. exports of consumer-oriented food products to Saudi Arabia increased by approximately 11 percent in 2019 - to a record high of $588 million.

Saudi barley import tenders for July-September 2020 are 12 percent less than the quantity of barley imported over the same period last year (1.68 million MT vs. 1.91 million MT).

Saudi Arabia privatized two of its four flour milling companies for 740.5 million USD on July 8, 2020. The remaining two are expected to be sold in the next few weeks.

The major export certificates required by Saudi Arabia’s regulatory and import control agencies are included in this Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) - Report...

In 2019, Saudi Arabia withdrew a draft regulation to establish extremely low upper limits on sugar in a wide range of food products.

Saudi Arabia is a significant market for U.S. food and agricultural products, with direct U.S. exports estimated at $1.39 billion in 2019.