The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released Sunday the international trade report for October 2021. The report revealed that Saudi Arabia’s overall merchandise exports increased by 90.0% in October 2021 compared to October 2020, when international trade was impacted by the lockdowns and the travel bans due to the breakdown of COVID-19 in many world countries. The value of exports amounted to SR106.2 billion in October 2021, up from SR55.9 billion in October 2020. This increase originated mainly from oil exports, which rose by SR45.5 billion or 123.1% in the same period. The share of oil exports in total exports increased from 66.1% October 2020 to 77.6% October 2021. Compared to the previous month (September 2021), the total merchandise exports increased by SR11.5 billion or 12.2%. The non-oil exports increased by 25.5% year-on-year in October 2021, rising to SR23.8 billion from SR19.0 billion in October 2020. The non-oil exports decreased compared to the previous month September 2021 by SR1.5 billion or 5.9%. Merchandise imports increased by 7.6% (SR3.3 billion) in October 2021. The value of imports amounted to SR46.3 billion in October 2021 compared to SR43.0 billion in October 2020. Imports, however, decreased compared to the previous month September 2021 by SR1.1 billion or 2.4%. — SPA