The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) indicated that the value of merchandise exports during July 2024 amounted to 94.5 billion SAR, compared to 92.6 billion SAR during July 2023, with an increase of 1.9 billion SAR, or 2.1%.
The value of oil exports during July 2024 amounted to 69.1 billion SAR, compared to 71.3 billion SAR during July 2023, with a decrease of 2.2 billion SAR, or 3.1%, according to the results of the publication.
The value of non-oil exports (including re-exports) during July 2024 amounted to 25.4 billion SAR, compared to 21.3 billion SAR during July 2023, with an increase of 4.1 billion SAR by 19.2% , the results noted.
While the value of the Saudi Arabia's merchandise imports during July 2024 amounted to 75.2 billion SAR, compared to 66.8 billion SAR during July 2023, with a decrease of 8.4 billion SAR, or 12.6%. 

Dr. Fahad Aldossari, the President of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), headed the delegation from GASTAT participating in the 11th Meeting of the Standing Committee for Statistical Work Affairs held in Muscat, Oman. The meeting aimed to enhance Gulf joint statistical work, support sustainable development plans, and exchange statistical expertise among member states.  The Committee reviewed the implementation of its previous decisions and examined performance reports from the past period. It discussed ways to strengthen cooperation among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to elevate statistical work, keep pace with global developments, and continuously improve mechanisms for exchanging statistical data. The committee also focused on collaboration in sharing expertise and information, supporting programs to raise statistical awareness, and addressing common challenges. GASTAT’s President highlighted the importance of relations among the GCC countries in pushing wider horizons for effective cooperation in the field of information and statistical data. He expressed his appreciation to the committee members for their efforts in consolidating the concepts of statistical work and its role in supporting development plans and national visions for the council's countries. He praised the support that statistical offices receive from the leaders of GCC countries. The Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (“GCC-Stat”) was established to enhance statistical and informational work for national statistical centers and planning agencies, serving as the official source of data, information, and statistics in the member states. The establishment of GCC Stat was approved by the GCC Ministerial Council in September 2011. The Charter was officially endorsed in December 2012 by the GCC Supreme Council (comprised of heads of member states).

 

The General Authority for Statistics released the Editorial Policy for Content Writing and Translation alongside the Numbers Writing Guide, aiming to streamline the creation of statistical content such as publications, reports, and indices. Additionally, these resources aim to disseminate knowledge on linguistic and technical aspects related to statistical content writing. The integration of scientific and technical language aligns with GASTAT's identity and vision. Both guides underwent rigorous scientific review by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language. The release of the Numbers Writing Guide and Editorial Policy underscores GASTAT's commitment to enhancing statistical practices and providing necessary resources. This initiative includes offering linguistic insights in a user-friendly manner and promoting the use of contemporary scientific terminology in statistical discourse. Furthermore, it aims to convey statistical knowledge seamlessly, catering to the needs of individuals involved in statistical and economic content creation. The Editorial Policy for Content Writing and Translation offers a condensed scientific overview of significant linguistic rules, sourced from traditional linguistic literature, and reformulated for clarity. It comprises three primary chapters: guidelines for content editing and writing in Arabic, instructions for editing and writing press and media materials, and guidelines for translating content from Arabic to English. Individuals interested in the Arabic language can leverage the Numbers Writing Guide and Editorial Policy to enhance their writing across various domains. These resources serve as comprehensive references, not limited to statistical fields, but extending to writing, editing, journalistic practices, and media content creation. This release reaffirms GASTAT's commitment to advancing the statistical sector and ensuring accessibility to data and information in Arabic and English, characterized by simplicity, clarity, and robust scientific foundation.

The President of the General Authority for Statistics(GASTAT) Dr. Fahad Aldossari participated in a panel discussion held as part of the Regional Data and Community Development Forum in Sharjah, UAE. The session included a distinguished group of experts in social development, economists, data specialists, and decision-makers to discuss statistical offices in the age of artificial intelligence. Notable participants in the discussion included Ms. Kersti Kaljulaid, former President of Estonia, Mr. Ali bin Mahboob, former Chair of the UN Statistical Commission, and Mr. Alan Smithson, Co-Founder of MetaVerse.
During his participation in the "Expert Talk" session, Dr. Fahad Aldossari explained that GASTAT has invested in expanding the diversification of data sources by utilizing administrative records available from various entities in both the public and private sectors. He emphasized the importance of expanding strategic partnerships that support this direction, supplemented by satellite data and big data, in addition to the surveys conducted by GASTAT. He affirmed that diversifying data sources enhances their quality and reliability.
In the same context, He stated that focusing on the development of statistical systems aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes technological innovation and governance based on organized and unbiased data. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia's investment stems from the belief that technological advancement is not only a means to improve efficiency and accuracy but is also a fundamental pillar for transforming statistical centers into strategic tools that support decision-makers in developing data-driven economic and social policies.
It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia is participating in the Regional Data and Community Development Forum, represented by GASTAT, at the invitation of the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development which will take place on 9-10 October 2024. The forum aims to raise awareness of the importance and benefits of data in addressing social and environmental issues and to highlight best practices and examples in this field. The forum brings together policymakers, government officials, and private sector representatives along with community development experts, academics, researchers, national statistical offices, and international organizations.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released today the results of the Industrial Production Index (IPI) for July 2024. According to the report, the index increased by 1.6% in July 2024 compared to the same month in the previous year, July 2023. This growth was driven by the rise in manufacturing activity, electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supplies, as well as water supply, sewage, waste management, and treatment activities. The report revealed a 4.6% increase in the sub-index for manufacturing activity compared to July of the previous year, while the sub-index for mining and quarrying activity showed a decline of 0.8% in July 2024. The sub-index for electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supplies recorded an 8.2% increase, and the sub-index for water supply, sewage, waste management, and treatment activities rose by 1.1%, compared to July of the previous year. The report indicated that the oil activities index decreased by 1.1% in July 2024, while the non-oil activities index increased by 8.2% compared to the same month of the previous year. It is worth mentioning that the General Authority for Statistics issues several statistical products related to the industry, including the Industrial Production Index (IPI), which is an economic indicator that reflects the relative changes and developments in the volume of industrial production. This index is based on data from the Industrial Production Survey, which is conducted monthly and targets industrial establishments operating in key activities such as mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and electricity and gas supply.

The High-level Group for Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building for Statistics for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (HLG-PCCB) announced today, Thursday, September 5, 2024 that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority for Statistics, won the bid to host the United Nations World Data Forum in Riyadh. The decision was made after securing the majority of votes following a review of the proposals from countries competing to host the forum, showcasing their capabilities to host this global event. The announcement of the Kingdom’s win came following a meeting of the HLG-PCCB group responsible for assigning the hosting rights to the candidate countries, during which Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics, presented the Kingdom’s bid. His presentation included an overview of GASTAT’s journey in statistical work, the transformations it has witnessed, the Kingdom's pioneering experience in hosting international events, and its ability to provide all forms of logistical support to achieve the objectives of these events. The proposal also included a suggested main topic for the forum titled “Using the Latest Technologies and Methodologies to Enhance Global Statistical Systems and Enable Sustainable Development”. In this context, Dr. Fahad Aldossari said, “Hosting this leading event by the Kingdom reflects its prominent status among nations, affirming the commitment of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud — may Allah protect them — to support the statistical sector, recognizing the pivotal role statistical data plays in supporting the implementation of comprehensive and sustainable development plans across all fields”. He added, “Winning the bid to host the United Nations World Data Forum 2026 crowns the prominent efforts in the statistical field. It also reflects the significant expansions in statistical work witnessed over recent years, driven by initiatives and projects led by the General Authority for Statistics, aiming to produce accurate and updated statistical data and indicators, through the continuous development of integrating various data sources using the best data management and governance infrastructures”.  It is noteworthy that the international data forum targets the 193 member states of the United Nations. The Kingdom’s win to host the sixth edition of the forum's activities emphasizes its pivotal role in supporting the directions aimed at providing high-quality statistical data and indicators. The forum also involves the participation of international organizations, statistical offices of the UN member states, as well as data scientists and those interested in statistics.

A delegation from the General Authority for Statistics, led by Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari , GASTAT President, met with several government officials and private sector representatives in Estonia as part of their visit to the Republic of Estonia. During the meetings, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the statistical field, reviewed the latest developments in statistical practices, and strengthened the exchange of expertise. It is worth noting that this visit is part of a series of reciprocal visits with statistical agencies aimed at fostering cooperation, sharing experiences, and localizing practices that add value to GASTAT’s initiatives. The delegation also aimed to demonstrate the progress in statistical work in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is supported by the generous leadership, reflecting its commitment to providing data and statistical indicators that aid in development planning and inform both the local and international community about the advancements occurring in the Kingdom across all sectors.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced today a 10.5% increase in non-oil exports in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the second quarter of 2023. Additionally, national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, increased by 1.4%, while the value of re-exported goods rose by 39.1% during the same period, according to the International Trade Publication for the second quarter of 2024. The Publication's results revealed a 4.3% rise in non-oil exports, including re-exports, while merchandise exports saw a 0.2% decline in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter in 2023. Imports also decreased by 5.6%, driven by a 3.3% decrease in oil exports. The share of oil exports in total exports fell to 75.0% in the second quarter of 2024, down from 77.4% in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The Publication also reported a 3.0% increase in the Kingdom's imports during the second quarter of 2024. As for the trade balance, the surplus decreased by 6.0% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Compared to the first quarter of 2024, the value of merchandise exports remained stable, while the value of imports decreased by 5.6%. The trade balance surplus increased by 13.2% compared to the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, the International Trade Publication for June 2024 indicated that the value of non-oil exports (including re-exports) reached SAR 21.6 billion in June 2024, compared to SAR 20.1 billion in June 2023, an increase of SAR 1.5 billion, or 7.3%. Meanwhile, the value of oil exports amounted to SAR 66.3 billion in June 2024, compared to SAR 73.2 billion in June 2023, a decrease of SAR 6.8 billion, or 9.3%. The decline in oil exports had the greatest impact on the decrease in merchandise exports. The value of merchandise exports was SAR 87.9 billion in June 2024, compared to SAR 93.3 billion in June 2023, a decrease of SAR 5.4 billion, or 5.8%. In contrast, the value of the Kingdom's merchandise imports was SAR 57.7 billion in June 2024, compared to SAR 60.8 billion in June 2023, a decrease of SAR 3.1 billion, or 5.1%.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) signed a memorandum of cooperation with Qassim University aimed at enhancing collaboration, improving coordination, and integrating efforts in their respective fields. The agreement also includes joint research initiatives between the two parties. It was signed by Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of GASTAT, and Prof. Mohammed bin Fahad Alsharekh, President of Qassim University. The agreement covers several areas, such as collaboration in developing and supporting academic programs focused on statistics, conducting external reviews of curricula, and providing researchers with access to interactive maps for estimating and analyzing statistical data. It also includes cooperation in data sharing, statistical indicators, and the execution of statistical surveys, along with the organization of lectures, seminars, and workshops in statistics and related disciplines. Furthermore, the agreement offers opportunities for cooperative and summer training for university students. In this regard, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, President of GASTAT, highlighted that statistical work plays a vital role in achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by establishing and assessing statistical indicators. He pointed out that the collaboration with Qassim University aids in tracking progress towards national goals and sustainable development targets through joint efforts to improve data exchange performance, address the needs of both parties, and stay abreast of statistical advancements in scientific research and future trends for developing statistical products that bolster the national economy and sustainable development. The partnership also seeks to enhance community awareness and understanding of various sectors and their activities. It is worth noting that the General Authority for Statistics is the official entity responsible for statistics in the Kingdom, serving as the sole official reference for conducting statistical work and supervising its technical and organizational aspects. GASTAT tasks include collecting statistical data and information from public and private entities as well as individuals, in addition to analyzing and studying this data to calculate various statistical indicators. GASTAT also provides consultancy and statistical reports for surveys and research, among other data and statistics services within its scope of work. Qassim University, in turn, is dedicated to achieving its educational and scientific goals and strategic plans, playing a significant and active role in development efforts by building bridges of cooperation with government entities across various sectors. The university aligns with the Kingdom's ongoing development in all fields, channeling its efforts to enhance the nation's status and support the continuous work towards achieving Vision 2030.