The report identified Japan, the US and China as the main importers from Saudi Arabia.

Asian states received the lion’s share of Saudi exports, valued at SR518.56 billion or 55 percent of the total.

“During 2010 exports to Asian countries rose by 32 percent,” it pointed out.

Japan topped the list of Asian importers from the Kingdom, accounting for SR135.63 million or 26 percent of total exports to Asia, followed by China at SR112.21 billion or 22 percent.

North America accounted for 14 percent of total Saudi exports valued at SR131.99 billion, registering an increase of 45 percent.

“The United States receives 95 percent of the total Saudi exports to North America valued at SR124.68 billion, followed by Canada (SR7.32 billion),” it said.

The European Union is placed third among importers from Saudi Arabia, reaching SR89.47 billion or 10 percent of the total. During 2010 Saudi exports to European countries rose by 35 percent.

Spain was the largest European importer, accounting for 20 percent (SR17.76 billion). France was in the second position with SR15.74 billion or 18 percent.

According to the department, Saudi Arabia’s nonoil exports during 2010 amounted to SR134.61 billion against SR109.62 billion, an increase of 23 percent.

During the same year, the Kingdom’s imports reached SR400.74 billion against SR358.29 billion in 2009, an increase of 12 percent.

The department said general exports to Gulf Cooperation Council states amounted to SR76.95 billion or 8 percent of the total.

The UAE was the largest importer from the Kingdom with total imports worth SR32.92 billion, followed by Bahrain (SR29.85 billion).

Non-Arab Islamic countries held sixth position among importers from the Kingdom as their imports were valued at SR45.87 billion or 5 percent of total Saudi exports. Indonesia topped the list of importers from this group with a value of SR14.39 billion, followed by Pakistan (SR12.29 billion). “Saudi exports to countries in this group rose by 38 percent in 2010,” the department said.

The Kingdom’s exports to African countries reached SR16.08 billion or 2 percent of the total, with South Africa topping the list with SR11.27 billion. The report also pointed out that Saudi exports to the US rose by 46 percent in 2010 compared to 2009.