🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia exports of plastic waste: 2024 trade data
In 2024, Saudi Arabia exported plastic waste worth $23.8 million (28.0 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. That is 18% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 it shrank by about 8% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2017, at $41.3 million.
Public statistics, latest reported year 2024. Values in US dollars.
Exports of plastic waste by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $23.8M | 28.0K t |
| 2023 | $29.1M | 63.8K t |
| 2022 | $37.3M | 46.8K t |
| 2021 | $21.9M | 33.2K t |
| 2020 | $6.3M | 12.0K t |
| 2019 | $11.0M | 20.6K t |
| 2018 | $22.1M | 50.7K t |
| 2017 | $41.3M | 74.9K t |
Where Saudi Arabia exports plastic waste to
Most of it went to China (25%), India (17%), Pakistan (17%). Among the main buyer markets, Spain grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | $5.9M | 25% |
| 🇮🇳 India | $4.1M | 17% |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | $4.1M | 17% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $1.4M | 5.9% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $1.3M | 5.5% |
| Taiwan | $1.3M | 5.3% |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | $1.1M | 4.6% |
| 🇾🇪 Yemen | $897K | 3.8% |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | $821K | 3.4% |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | $718K | 3% |
Types of plastic waste under HS 3915
| 3915.10 | Ethylene polymers: waste, parings and scrap | 52% |
| 3915.90 | Plastics n.e.c. in heading no. 3915: waste, parings and scrap | 45% |
| 3915.30 | Vinyl chloride polymers: waste, parings and scrap | 3.9% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 3915.
Average export price of plastic waste
The average declared value was about $0.85 per kg, 102% above the world average of $0.42. 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.
Saudi Arabia also imports plastic waste
Saudi Arabia imported $10.9 million of plastic waste in 2024 (23.6 thousand tonnes). Most of the value came from Italy (47%), Spain (20%), United States (9%). Among the main suppliers, Romania grew fastest (+248% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $5.2M | 47% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $2.2M | 20% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $1.0M | 9.3% |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | $997K | 9.2% |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | $360K | 3.3% |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | $328K | 3% |
| 🇨🇳 China | $198K | 1.8% |
| 🇯🇴 Jordan | $184K | 1.7% |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | $97K | 0.9% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $69K | 0.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in Saudi Arabia?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
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 3915: Waste, parings and scrap, of plastics.
Plastic waste trade in Saudi Arabia: questions
What is the value of plastic waste imported by Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia imported plastic waste worth $10.9 million in 2024 (23.6 thousand tonnes).
Where does Saudi Arabia import plastic waste from?
The main supplier countries in 2024 were Italy (47%), Spain (20%), United States (9%).
What is the average import price of plastic waste in Saudi Arabia?
The average declared import value was about $0.46 per kg in 2024, against a world average of $0.42 per kg.
Does Saudi Arabia export plastic waste?
Yes. Saudi Arabia exported plastic waste worth $23.8 million in 2024, mainly to China, India, Pakistan.
What is the HS code for plastic waste?
Plastic waste falls under HS heading 3915 (Waste, parings and scrap, of plastics). The six-digit codes under it split the product by type.
How can I find the companies trading plastic waste with Saudi Arabia?
These public statistics stop at country level. EximDataX builds Saudi Arabia trade from the records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see who ships this product there.
Plastic waste trade in other countries
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