Saudi Arabia’s dairy exports hit US$1.03B in first nine months of 2025

SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia’s exports of milk and dairy products reached US$1.03 billion (SR3.9 billion) during the first nine months of 2025, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics and reviewed by Al-Eqtisadiah. 

The agricultural and industrial market for the dairy sector in the Kingdom is estimated at (US$5.87 billion) SR22 billion in 2024, according to Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Al-Khorayef, who spoke at the Saudi Dairy Forum in Al-Kharj. He noted at the time that Saudi Arabia had achieved 129 per cent self-sufficiency in dairy products. 

Saudi Arabia’s exports of milk and dairy products in 2024 reached US$1.28 billion, up from approximately US$1.12 billion in 2023, bringing the total export volume for the last three years to September 2025 to more than US$3.47 billion (SR13 billion). 

The licensed annual production volume of dairy products and infant formula is estimated at more than 29 million bottles, equivalent to 685 million kg and more than 818 million liters. 

Data indicated that the UAE was the largest importer of Saudi products during the three years up to last September, with imports totaling approximately US$1.07 billion (SR4 billion)

Kuwait followed at US$ 693 million, and Oman at US$347 million (SR1.3 billion), as well as Bahrain at US$293 million (SR1.1 billion), Iraq at approximately SR1 billion, Jordan at US$ 266 million (SR997 million), and Yemen at US$ 223.2 million (SR837 million). 

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority noted that the volume of Saudi exports of dairy products and infant formula during the first half of 2025 reached 296.5 million kg. 

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture previously confirmed that 95 percent of Saudi Arabia’s milk production is certified with the “Saudi GAP” quality mark.

This step highlights producers’ commitment to applying the highest quality and food safety standards and ensuring that local products conform to national and international standards. 

The Ministry added that the quantity of raw milk produced in specialized dairy farms, according to statistics, reached 2.7 billion liters in 2024.

Riyadh led production with 1.6 billion liters, followed by the Eastern Province with 1.1 billion liters. The number of dairy cows in these farms reached 233,000 heads. 

By adopting the certified “Saudi GAP” quality mark, the ministry aims to enhance the reliability of food safety standards and deepen consumer confidence in local products.

“Saudi GAP” is one of the ministry’s initiatives aimed at establishing the concept of sustainable agricultural practices and increasing the volume and quality of plant and animal production, thereby supporting the competitiveness of local products and contributing to achieving the goals of Vision 2030. 

Subscribe to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa, the Middle East and around the world. SUBSCRIBE HERE