The Kingdom has invested billions of dollars to constantly develop Jeddah Islamic Port as the cargo handling volume steadily grows. JEDDAH - Saudi Arabia's total value of imported goods in 2010 increased by 12 percent to reach SR400.8 billion ($107 billion), compared to SR358.4 billion ($95.6 billion) a year ago, data from Saudi Customs showed. Total value of exports reached SR117.7 billion ($31.38 billion) compared to SR88 billion in 2009, up 34 percent, while the total number of cars and trucks re-exported in 2010 increased 2.2 percent or 600,000 vehicles, to reach approximately 16.7 million vehicles. The Kingdom's real growth will reach 6.5 percent this year, the highest level since 2003, and comparable to the rates seen in the most dynamic emerging markets, Samba said in an earlier report, though growth would slow a bit to 4 percent next year. However, this largely reflects the leveling off of crude oil output, the report said. The nonoil sector should continue to thrive, growing by 5.2 percent (down from 5.4 percent in 2011). A recovery to 4.5 percent overall growth is envisaged for 2013 as the nonoil sector continues its 5 percent-plus rate of expansion and oil output edges up once more. GDP per head is set to reach around $18,300 this year, climbing to $19,300 by 2013. GDP per head has doubled in less than 10 years, Samba said. The Jeddah Islamic Port topped the list in value of imports, standing at SR 160 billion, with exports at SR22 billion. King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam came in second place with imports at SR 82 billion weighing 15.7 million tons, and exports valuing SR16 billion weighing 4.8 million tons. The two ports handled 61 percent of total imports to the Kingdom. Customs data in all branches reached almost 2.9 million spread over imports, exports and transit goods. The annual customs report also recorded the top 20 countries in terms of exports and import to Saudi Arabia. Of the top 20 countries in terms of exports and import to Saudi Arabia, the annual customs report noted that China led with SR13.4 billion worth of Saudi exports to China, while receiving SR 46.8 billion of imports. The UAE came in second with value of Saudi exports at SR13.1 billion, while imports reached SR 14 billion. Non-port exports totaled 61 percent of the country's total value of exports. Non-oil exports reached SR57.6 billion, 49 percent of the year's exports of SR 117.7 billion. Meanwhile, total customs seizures reached the following amounts: drugs (cannabis, heroin, cocaine and others)- 7.3 tons, narcotic pills- 31.2 million tons, alcohol- 158,000 units, weapons 1,115 units, counterfeit goods- 15 million items, and 6,501 cases of restricted export goods. In 2010 Saudi Customs concentrated its efforts in putting a stop to counterfeit goods entering the country, with the result making it on top of the list of the 177-member states of the World Customs Organization in the number of seizures, excluding cars in 2009-10. Saudi Customs also achieved sixth place in computer, mobile phones and accessories seizures and seventh for textiles, which reflects positively on the Kingdom's international status in combating commercial fraud and counterfeit goods, as well as protection for intellectual rights. Separately, according to Yemen Ministry of Fisheries, Saudi Arabia topped the list of importers of fish from Yemen, with import reaching 20,257 tons of fish and marine life during the first half of 2011, at a cost of more than $71 million. Ghazi Ahmed Lahmer Undersecretary of the Ministry of Fisheries, said in a statement to Saba (the country's news agency), that Yemen's exports of fish and marine life covered 33 countries, with Saudi Arabia on top.
