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.
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
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 838.88 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 23.76 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 8.68 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0153 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 69.55 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0811 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 113.12 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.3635 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.3983 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 33.24 Mt CO2e (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
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.