Halal Industry

Saudi Arabia imported 25% more foods from Russia in 2020 – SPA


Saudi Arabia imported 25% more food products from Russia in 2020 to reach 141,548 tons despite COVID-19 disruptions, state news agency SPA reported on Tuesday (April 13).

The number of Russian companies approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority for meat, meat products, honey, and eggs, increased from three in 2019 to 27 last year.

SPA cited the chief executive of SFDA, Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey, as saying that the challenges from the pandemic forced close cooperation between food regulators, the industry and producers.

SFDA worked with its counterparts in Russia, including the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Federal Service for Veterinary Supervision and Phytosanitary, to facilitate the import of Russian food products.

All meat, poultry and products that contain ingredients of animal origin require halal certificates to enter the Saudi market.  

Saudi Arabia imported $732 million worth of live animals and $1.94 billion worth of meat and edible meat offals from all countries in 2019, according to the United Nations’ ITC Trade Map. In total, this is a 6.66% increase from 2018.

Russian imports comprised only 1.11% of the total in 2019.

2020 accumulated figures are not year available from both the Saudi General Authority of Statistics and ITC Trade Map.

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Imports