Saudi Arabia: Retail Foods

  |   Attaché Report (GAIN)   |   SA2021-0007

U.S. exports of consumer-oriented food products to Saudi Arabia decreased approximately five percent in 2020 to $560 million compared to 2019 due mainly to disruptions of air cargo shipments to Saudi Arabia for several weeks following the outbreak of COVID-19. Total retail sales of packaged food in 2020 were estimated at approximately $21 billion. Even though COVID-19 was blamed for a seven percent decrease in total U.S. agricultural exports in 2020 to $1.23 billion, U.S. Customs data for January - March 2021 indicates a 23 percent increase in U.S. agricultural exports over the same period from last year. Post anticipates a significant increase in U.S. high-value food products to Saudi Arabia in 2021 due to expansion of the retail sector as well as a return to normal operations within the food service sector. U.S. food is generally viewed as a higher-quality product, and it is well-positioned to gain market share in traditional retail outlets as well as several new home delivery food buying apps.

Related Reports

Attaché Report (GAIN)

United Kingdom: Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the UK

As part of a broad push towards reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector, the newly elected Labour government is seeking to bolster the United Kingdom’s (UK) Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) industry, which builds on initiatives and policies...
On October 30, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) extended over 220 voluntary tariff suspensions announced following the 2021 and 2023 application periods, through June 30, 2026. The announcement synchronizes multiple expiration periods...
The European Commission will allocate €132 million (approximately $138 million) towards promotion activities for EU agri-food products in 2025.