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Saudi Arabia-Malaysia Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $11.55B total volume •Saudi Arabia surplus: $7.62B

Saudi Arabia → Malaysia

$9.58B

Exports (2023)

Malaysia → Saudi Arabia

$1.97B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$7.62B

Surplus for Saudi Arabia

Total Trade

$11.55B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. Green line shows exports from Saudi Arabia, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Saudi Arabia-Malaysia commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

Saudi Arabia → Malaysia Exports

$9.58B

2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:

Highly Diversified

Market Share:

75.5% top product

1Oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude

$7.24B

75.5% of exports

2Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils

$1.22B

12.7% of exports

3Propylene, other olefin polymers: polypropylene in primary forms

$227.05M

2.4% of exports

4Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, butanes

$114.43M

1.2% of exports

5Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more

$100.43M

1.0% of exports

6Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, propane

$83.84M

0.9% of exports

7Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers, having a specific gravity of less than 0.94

$74.51M

0.8% of exports

8Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94

$74.23M

0.8% of exports

9Cyclic hydrocarbons: styrene

$63.06M

0.7% of exports

10Alcohols: saturated monohydric, methanol (methyl alcohol)

$34.93M

0.4% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Saudi Arabia's export portfolio to Malaysia demonstrates strong diversification across multiple sectors, with oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

Malaysia → Saudi Arabia Imports

$1.97B

2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:

Well Diversified

Critical Imports:

18.5% concentration

1Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified

$364.04M

18.5% of imports

2Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified

$227.22M

11.5% of imports

3Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils

$213.87M

10.9% of imports

4Meat preparations: of the poultry of heading no. 0105, (i.e. of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus)

$66.65M

3.4% of imports

5Copper: wire, of refined copper, of which the maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeds 6mm

$66.01M

3.4% of imports

6Buildings: prefabricated, not of wood

$50.33M

2.6% of imports

7Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus

$35.14M

1.8% of imports

8Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, n.e.c. in heading no. 7213, of circular cross-section measuring less than 14mm in diameter

$34.22M

1.7% of imports

9Machines and mechanical appliances: having individual functions, n.e.c. or included in this chapter

$25.95M

1.3% of imports

10Electric accumulators: lead-acid, of a kind used for starting piston engines, including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square)

$21.15M

1.1% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Saudi Arabia's import pattern from Malaysia reveals significant dependencyin vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Saudi Arabia demonstrates competitive strength in exportingoils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude to Malaysia, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 20+ Categories

🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange

📈

Growth Potential

The $11.55B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Major Partnership

Executive Summary: Saudi Arabia-Malaysia Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

Total Trade Volume: $11.55 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
Trade Balance: Saudi Arabia maintains a surplus of $7.62 billion
Export Focus: Saudi Arabia's primary exports include oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude, petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils, propylene, other olefin polymers: polypropylene in primary forms
Import Dependencies: Key imports from Malaysia include vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified, vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh

Export DiversificationDiversified

Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents a significant global trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $11.55B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Saudi Arabia leveraging its comparative advantages in oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

Comparative Advantage

Saudi Arabia's specialization in oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crudecomplements Malaysia's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified.

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $11.55B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric

Seasonal VariationsModerate

Product ConcentrationLow

Market DependencyHigh

🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $11.55B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $11.55 billion bilateral trade volume represents a significant economic factorfor both economies.

Economic Significance: High

🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude and vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Diversified

⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Saudi Arabia's trade surplus of $7.62 billion strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors

Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils present expansion opportunities.

Market Diversification

Beyond current focus on vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks

Market Competition

Global competition in oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia represents a total trade volume of $11.55 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for Saudi Arabia, with exports exceeding importsby $7.62 billion.

Export Strengths

Saudi Arabia's exports to Malaysia total $9.58 billion, with competitive advantages in oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude, representing $7.24B or75.5% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Malaysia amount to $1.97 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified, with Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified comprising18.5% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates Saudi Arabia's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023