Saudi Food Exports Climb as Industry Expansion Continues

Saudi Arabia’s food exports have risen significantly in recent years, increasing by about 60% since 2021 to reach roughly SR22 billion last year. The growth reflects expanding manufacturing capacity and investment in a sector now valued at around SR200 billion and ranked among the Kingdom’s largest industrial employers.

The number of food factories has approached 1,900, with new companies entering the market regularly as development accelerates under the National Industrial Strategy. The initiative has already attracted tens of billions of riyals in investment and aims to strengthen domestic production and export competitiveness over the coming decade.

Industrial expansion is particularly evident in Jeddah, where four industrial cities host thousands of factories and ongoing infrastructure upgrades are increasing capacity. The Jeddah Food Cluster, launched in 2024, is being developed to integrate logistics, training, laboratory services and storage facilities to support manufacturers.

Automation and digitalisation programmes are also being introduced to modernise production processes, while foreign investment continues across segments including poultry, meat processing and infant nutrition. These efforts coincide with rising self-sufficiency in key food categories and steady domestic market growth.

Together, export gains, infrastructure development and investment flows point to a food industry that is scaling its role in both regional supply and global trade.

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