petroleum exports during the month of May showed a hike of 19 percent compared to the same month a year ago, according to a government report. A report issued by the Central Department of Statistics and Information (CDSI) at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, said these exports were valued at SR10.278 million in May compared to SR8.672 million during May 2007. The tonnage of exports also increased by 17 percent to 3,883 tons, compared to 3,305 tons in May 2007. The report said petrochemicals continued to lead the Kingdom's most important commodities exported during the month of May, followed by plastics, plastic products, base-metals and re-exported commodities. During the same month, the report said, the total value of Saudi imports also showed an increase of 12 percent to SR31.778 million, compared to SR28.459 million in May 2007. That translated into 3,923 tons of commodities, compared to 3,920 tons a year earlier. Electric machines and equipment topped the list of most imported goods, followed by transport machines, base-metals and food. The report added that the UAE topped the list of countries that imported from Saudi Arabia, followed by China and Qatar. GCC states, however, topped the most important groups of states to which Saudi Arabia exports, followed by a group of non-Arab and Islamic Asian countries and other states of the Arab League. During the period under review, The United States topped the list of countries that export commodities to Saudi Arabia, followed by China, Germany, non-Arab Asian countries and Islamic groups of countries, EU countries and North America. The report said that national products the Kingdom imported from GCC states rose by 18 percent in May 2008 to reach SR1,576 million, compared to SR1,335 million a year earlier. The value for total non-oil national products exported to other GCC states also increased by 34 percent to SR2.727 million compared to SR2.038 million in May 2007. __
