Sponge iron imports in Saudi Arabia: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, Saudi Arabia imported sponge iron worth $36.5 million (53.1 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 3rd largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 136 countries. That is 27% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 153% a year on average.
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 | $36.5M | 53.1K t |
| 2023 | $28.7M | 11.9K t |
| 2022 | $324K | 359 t |
| 2021 | $2.8M | 3.7K t |
| 2020 | $278K | 255 t |
| 2019 | $3K | 1 t |
| 2018 | $79K | 112 t |
| 2017 | $54K | 63 t |
Where Saudi Arabia imports sponge iron from
One supplier dominates: India accounted for 100% of the value. Among the main suppliers, India grew fastest (+134% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $36.5M | 100% |
| United Arab Emirates | $26K | 0.1% |
| China | $18K | 0.1% |
| United States | $3K | 0% |
| Italy | $1K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.69 per kg, 60% above the world average of $0.43. 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 sponge iron imports (HS 7203.90): 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 7203.90: Ferrous products: spongy ferrous products and iron having a minimum purity by weight of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms.
Common questions
What is the value of sponge iron imported by Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia imported sponge iron worth $36.5 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 53.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 3rd of 136 countries worldwide, with 8% of world imports. The value was up 27% on 2023.
Which countries supply sponge iron to Saudi Arabia?
India was the largest supplier with 100% of the value ($36.5 million), followed by the United Arab Emirates (0%) and China (0%). The top three together account for 100%, out of 5 supplier countries in total. The United Arab Emirates grew fastest among the top ten, up 779% on the year.
What is the average import price of sponge iron per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.69 per kg in 2024, 60% above the world average of $0.43 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of sponge iron to Saudi Arabia changed since 2017?
Imports went from $54 thousand in 2017 to $36.5 million in 2024. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Over 8 years the average was $8.6 million a year.
What is the HS code for sponge iron?
The HS code for sponge iron is subheading 7203.90. It sits in HS chapter 72 (iron and steel). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 7203 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For Saudi Arabia, EximDataX reads the shipment records of the countries that trade with it and shows the companies on both sides. We can walk you through your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
More trade data for Saudi Arabia
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