Lactic acid imports in Saudi Arabia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of lactic acid by Saudi Arabia reached $2.8 million in 2024 (982 tonnes). Value fell 49% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2023, at $5.5 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2.8M | 982 t |
| 2023 | $5.5M | 3.0K t |
| 2022 | $2.2M | 760 t |
| 2021 | $4.8M | 890 t |
| 2020 | $1.1M | 654 t |
| 2019 | $476K | 204 t |
| 2018 | $1.3M | 578 t |
| 2017 | $2.3M | 1.2K t |
Where Saudi Arabia imports lactic acid from
The largest suppliers were Netherlands (31%), Spain (17%), Belgium (15%). Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+278% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $863K | 31% |
| Spain | $480K | 17% |
| Belgium | $427K | 15% |
| Germany | $369K | 13% |
| United States | $278K | 9.9% |
| China | $165K | 5.9% |
| Malaysia | $133K | 4.7% |
| Indonesia | $77K | 2.7% |
| Japan | $21K | 0.7% |
| Denmark | $3K | 0.1% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $2.87 per kg, 44% above the world average of $1.99. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in Saudi Arabia?
The shipment records behind Saudi Arabia lactic acid imports (HS 2918.11): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2918.11: Acids: carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), lactic acid, its salts and esters.
Common questions
What is the value of lactic acid imported by Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia imported lactic acid worth $2.8 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 982 tonnes. That ranks it 44th of 170 countries worldwide, with 0% of world imports. The value was down 49% on 2023.
Which countries supply lactic acid to Saudi Arabia?
The Netherlands was the largest supplier with 31% of the value ($863 thousand), followed by Spain (17%) and Belgium (15%). The top three together account for 63%, out of 14 supplier countries in total. China grew fastest among the top ten, up 278% on the year.
What is the average import price of lactic acid per kg?
The average declared import value was about $2.87 per kg in 2024, 44% above the world average of $1.99 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of lactic acid to Saudi Arabia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $2.3 million in 2017 to $2.8 million in 2024, an increase of 22%. The peak was 2023 at $5.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $2.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for lactic acid?
The HS code for lactic acid is subheading 2918.11. It sits in HS chapter 29 (organic chemicals). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2918 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; EximDataX adds the company names by reading partner countries' customs records for Saudi Arabia. Tell us your product to see it live.
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