Prepared meals imports in Saudi Arabia: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of prepared meals by Saudi Arabia reached $19.3 million in 2024 (2.4 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 8th largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 216 countries. Value fell 38% from 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 36% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2023, at $31.0 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 | $19.3M | 2.4K t |
| 2023 | $31.0M | 7.7K t |
| 2022 | $30.1M | 3.3K t |
| 2021 | $25.5M | 2.8K t |
| 2020 | $523K | 183 t |
| 2019 | $962K | 112 t |
| 2018 | $8.1M | 1.3K t |
| 2017 | $2.3M | 538 t |
Where Saudi Arabia imports prepared meals from
The largest suppliers were United Arab Emirates (28%), Egypt (17%), United Kingdom (14%). Among the main suppliers, Malaysia grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | $5.3M | 28% |
| Egypt | $3.2M | 17% |
| United Kingdom | $2.7M | 14% |
| Netherlands | $1.6M | 8.3% |
| Slovenia | $1.1M | 5.8% |
| Germany | $1.1M | 5.7% |
| Poland | $737K | 3.8% |
| France | $721K | 3.8% |
| Indonesia | $455K | 2.4% |
| Malaysia | $288K | 1.5% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $7.97 per kg, 112% above the world average of $3.76. 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.
Prepared meals exports from Saudi Arabia
Exports of prepared meals by Saudi Arabia reached $7.9 million in 2024 (20.2 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Yemen alone took 53% of it. Among the main buyer markets, Jordan grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Yemen | $4.2M | 53% |
| Jordan | $2.3M | 30% |
| Kuwait | $509K | 6.5% |
| Pakistan | $214K | 2.7% |
| Eritrea | $174K | 2.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | $117K | 1.5% |
| United Kingdom | $66K | 0.9% |
| Morocco | $39K | 0.5% |
| Somalia | $39K | 0.5% |
| Philippines | $38K | 0.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in Saudi Arabia?
The shipment records behind Saudi Arabia prepared meals imports (HS 2104.20): 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 2104.20: Homogenised composite food preparations.
Common questions
What is the value of prepared meals imported by Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia imported prepared meals worth $19.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 2.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 8th of 216 countries worldwide, with 3% of world imports. The value was down 38% on 2023.
Which countries supply prepared meals to Saudi Arabia?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest supplier with 28% of the value ($5.3 million), followed by Egypt (17%) and the United Kingdom (14%). The top three together account for 58%, out of 39 supplier countries in total. France grew fastest among the top ten, up 409% on the year.
What is the average import price of prepared meals per kg?
The average declared import value was about $7.97 per kg in 2024, 112% above the world average of $3.76 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of prepared meals to Saudi Arabia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $2.3 million in 2017 to $19.3 million in 2024, an increase of 744%. The peak was 2023 at $31.0 million. Over 8 years the average was $14.7 million a year.
Does Saudi Arabia also export prepared meals?
Yes. Saudi Arabia exported $7.9 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Yemen, Jordan and Kuwait. On balance Saudi Arabia is a net importer of this product, by about $11.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for prepared meals?
The HS code for prepared meals is subheading 2104.20. It sits in HS chapter 21 (miscellaneous edible preparations). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2104 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
EximDataX rebuilds Saudi Arabia trade from the customs records of its trading partners, so the companies shipping to and from it are visible. Ask for a live look at your product.
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