Ziad Sabbah and Rinat Gainullin 

CAIRO: Saudi Arabian non-oil exports rose by 26.8 percent in August from a year ago, rising to SR23 billion ($6.1 billion), according to General Authority for Statistics (GaStat) on Monday.

The figures come as international trade began to bounceback from the Covid-related lockdowns and travel bans imposed around the world in 2020. 

In August 2020, non-oil exports stood at SR18.1 billion.

Growth was driven mainly by higher exports of plastics and chemicals, which surged by 56.6 percent and 66.2 percent year-on-year, respectively.  

Non-oil exports, including re-exports, increased from SR18.9 billion in July 2021 by SR1.9 billion or 8.9 percent, GasStat said in a press release.

China remained the primary destination of Saudi non-oil exports in August, having accounted for SR3.2 billion ($865 million) — up from SR2.7 billion in July.

Non-oil exports to the UAE rose by 8 percent to SR2.8 billion riyals ($747 million) from SR2.6 billion in July.

India was the third major destination having accounted for SR1.6 billion riyals ($429 million), up from SR1.4 billion in July, the data posted showed.