The economic ties between Saudi Arabia and France are evolving, as trade increasingly mirrors Saudi Arabia’s strategic push to diversify its economy beyond oil dependency. This shift is evident in the trade figures for 2025, where France’s exports to the Kingdom reached nearly $4.5 billion, while imports from Saudi Arabia were approximately $3.7 billion. This marks a notable departure from previous years when Saudi Arabia typically enjoyed a trade surplus with France.
The change in trade dynamics is partly attributed to a decrease in French imports of oil and petroleum products. As France diversifies its energy sources, coupled with relatively low oil prices in 2025, the value of energy imports from Saudi Arabia has diminished. This trend underscores the changing landscape of economic relations between the two nations.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s demand for French goods has shown significant growth, spanning various sectors such as aerospace, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals, technology, and even perfumes and cosmetics. This broadening of trade sectors aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to lessen the country’s reliance on oil revenues and foster the development of new industries.
French companies are increasingly exploring opportunities within the Kingdom, attracted by the expanding investment and economic activities across non-oil sectors. This growing interest highlights the mutual benefits of the evolving bilateral trade relationship and the potential for further economic collaboration between Saudi Arabia and France.