Plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Plastic waste exports was 25,779 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia, 1991–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 25,779 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2024.
That represents a change of down 60.1% on the previous year and down 62.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia peaked at 104,547 tonnes in 2012 and was at its lowest, 850.06 tonnes, in 1994.
That places Saudi Arabia 27th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4,045 tonnes | — |
| 1992 | 3,577 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1993 | 1,335 tonnes | -62.7% |
| 1994 | 850.06 tonnes | -36.3% |
| 1995 | 4,324 tonnes | +408.7% |
| 1996 | 4,757 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1998 | 4,808 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 10,906 tonnes | +126.8% |
| 2000 | 12,175 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 2001 | 9,512 tonnes | -21.9% |
| 2002 | 9,836 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 18,046 tonnes | +83.5% |
| 2004 | 22,278 tonnes | +23.5% |
| 2005 | 23,504 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 19,258 tonnes | -18.1% |
| 2007 | 22,041 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 2008 | 33,487 tonnes | +51.9% |
| 2009 | 58,778 tonnes | +75.5% |
| 2010 | 85,150 tonnes | +44.9% |
| 2011 | 94,890 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 2012 | 104,547 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 90,040 tonnes | -13.9% |
| 2014 | 69,130 tonnes | -23.2% |
| 2015 | 72,263 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 87,747 tonnes | +21.4% |
| 2017 | 80,520 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2018 | 46,410 tonnes | -42.4% |
| 2019 | 37,991 tonnes | -18.1% |
| 2020 | 23,481 tonnes | -38.2% |
| 2021 | 30,772 tonnes | +31.0% |
| 2023 | 64,602 tonnes | +109.9% |
| 2024 | 25,779 tonnes | -60.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 25,779 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 5.6× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 25,779 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2,459 tonnes, 10.5× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +408.7% | 850.06 tonnes | 4,324 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4,325 tonnes | 850.06 tonnes | 10,906 tonnes | 8 |
| 2000s | 22,892 tonnes | 9,512 tonnes | 58,778 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 76,869 tonnes | 37,991 tonnes | 104,547 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 36,159 tonnes | 23,481 tonnes | 64,602 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More environment data for Saudi Arabia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -52.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -27.86 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.424 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.58 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.53 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 9.62 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia?
- Plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia was 25,779 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 104,547 tonnes in 2012.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 850.06 tonnes in 1994.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for plastic waste exports?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 27th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.