Yemen-Saudi Arabia Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $1.50B total volume •Yemen deficit: $1.15B

YemenSaudi Arabia

$176.49M

Exports (2023)

Saudi ArabiaYemen

$1.32B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$1.15B

Deficit for Yemen

Total Trade

$1.50B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

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

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

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

YemenSaudi Arabia Exports

$176.49M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
15.0% top product
1Vegetables, alliaceous: onions and shallots, fresh or chilled
$26.46M
15.0% of exports
2Fish: fresh or chilled, mackerel (Scomber scombrus, Scomber australasicus, Scomber japonicus), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99
$25.90M
14.7% of exports
3Fruit, edible: fruits n.e.c. in heading no. 0801 to 0810, fresh
$20.06M
11.4% of exports
4Fruit, edible: guavas, mangoes and mangosteens, fresh or dried
$19.79M
11.2% of exports
5Fish: fresh or chilled, jack and horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99
$18.59M
10.5% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Yemen's export portfolio to Saudi Arabia demonstrates strategic specialization, with vegetables, alliaceous: onions and shallots, fresh or chilled representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

Saudi ArabiaYemen Imports

$1.32B
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
6.3% concentration
1Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more
$82.64M
6.3% of imports
2Juice: of any single fruit or vegetable n.e.c. in heading no. 2009, unfermented, not containing added spirit, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter
$82.06M
6.2% of imports
3Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material
$78.35M
5.9% of imports
4Copper: stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like, not electrically insulated
$56.01M
4.2% of imports
5Plastics: carboys, bottles, flasks and similar articles, for the conveyance or packing of goods
$54.68M
4.1% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Yemen's import pattern from Saudi Arabia reveals significant dependencyin ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Yemen demonstrates competitive strength in exportingvegetables, alliaceous: onions and shallots, fresh or chilled to Saudi Arabia, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

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

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $1.50B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Yemen-Saudi Arabia Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $1.50 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Yemen maintains a deficit of $1.15 billion
  • Export Focus: Yemen's primary exports include vegetables, alliaceous: onions and shallots, fresh or chilled, fish: fresh or chilled, mackerel (scomber scombrus, scomber australasicus, scomber japonicus), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99, fruit, edible: fruits n.e.c. in heading no. 0801 to 0810, fresh
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Saudi Arabia include ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more, juice: of any single fruit or vegetable n.e.c. in heading no. 2009, unfermented, not containing added spirit, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional 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 $1.50B 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 Yemen leveraging its comparative advantages in vegetables, alliaceous: onions and shallots, fresh or chilled.

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

1

Comparative Advantage

Yemen's specialization in vegetables, alliaceous: onions and shallots, fresh or chilledcomplements Saudi Arabia's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $1.50B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $1.50B 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 $1.50 billion bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in vegetables, alliaceous: onions and shallots, fresh or chilled and ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Yemen's trade deficit of $1.15 billion impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in fish: fresh or chilled, mackerel (scomber scombrus, scomber australasicus, scomber japonicus), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99 present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more, 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 vegetables, alliaceous: onions and shallots, fresh or chilled 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 Yemen and Saudi Arabia represents a total trade volume of $1.50 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Yemen, with imports exceeding exportsby $1.15 billion.

Export Strengths

Yemen's exports to Saudi Arabia total $176.49 million, with competitive advantages in vegetables, alliaceous: onions and shallots, fresh or chilled, representing $26.46M or15.0% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Saudi Arabia amount to $1.32 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more, with Ethylene polymers: in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more comprising6.3% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Yemen's strategic sourcing from Saudi Arabia. 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 Yemen and Saudi Arabia in multiple formats.

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