In 2018, Saudi Arabia ranked 28th among the largest export destinations for the United States, with a value of 22.4 billion USD in goods and services. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Saudi Arabia was the second largest trading partner of the United States in 2018, and the Department of Commerce states that exporting and shipping goods and services to Saudi Arabia supports more than 160,000 jobs. The most important exports to the Saudi market from the United States include vehicles, machinery, equipment, weapons, ammunition, and food products.
Required Documents for Your Shipment from the United States to Saudi Arabia
The country requires most of the typical shipping documents necessary for any shipment entering its territory, including:
- Three copies of the commercial invoice.
- A non-removable label clearly indicating the country of origin of the shipment.
- Insurance documents.
- Packing list.
- Bill of lading.
- Original certificate of origin certified by the chamber of commerce of the exporting country.
- An Arabic translation accompanying the radiation certificate where applicable.
- A report of results or SASO issued by an inspection company accredited in the country of origin.
A Certificate of Conformity according to Saudi standards is also required for certain goods and products, and the expiration date of food products, as well as food ingredients, must be clearly printed in Arabic according to Saudi specifications. To import medical preparations—especially those of herbal nature—registration with the Saudi Ministry of Health is required.
Prohibited Items for Import into Saudi Arabia
It is important to remember that Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country. Bringing the Bible into the country is prohibited, and therefore Christian materials cannot be imported. Other prohibited items include:
- Pork and pork products
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Weapons including knives and firearms
- Distillation equipment
- Used clothing
- Pornographic materials
- Statues
There are also items that are restricted but may be imported with special government approval. These include chemicals and hazardous materials, agricultural seeds, archaeological artifacts, live animals, wireless equipment, radio-controlled aircraft, religious books and audio materials, natural asphalt, and perfumes containing alcohol. Importing such items without approval can lead to legal issues with Saudi authorities.
Imported goods that strongly compete with similar products produced locally are subject to duties ranging from 12% to 20%, depending on the type of goods and industry. However, higher duties are imposed on some imported food products to protect local producers. Luxury goods tend to have higher tariffs. For example, a 100% customs duty is imposed on all tobacco products, including cigarettes, as well as energy drinks, while soft drinks are charged at 50%.
International trade agreements
between investing countries within the framework are renegotiated every two years.
Contact Your Preferred Shipping Company and Provide the Following Information:
Provide the place of shipment, the final destination, the weight and dimensions of the container or shipment, and a description of the shipment. Using all the provided shipment information, the freight forwarder will contact its agent in Saudi Arabia to confirm the handling charges at the port as well as the relevant documents for smooth customs clearance.
The information is then returned to the consignee, who handles the following Saudi customs fees: handling customs clearance and charges, air or sea freight costs, and door-to-door delivery fees. Once completed, the freight forwarder collects the shipment from the shipper and sends it to Los Angeles Airport for air freight to Riyadh. If the shipment is by sea, it will be sent from the U.S. West Coast to the designated Saudi port.
Saudi Customs will also require, in addition to the above documents, a power of attorney for the Saudi broker to clear the goods, along with a copy of the commercial license. The freight forwarder then contacts the client once the shipment arrives at the customs destination to notify them of the arrival and arrange for local delivery.
Shipping Large Goods to Saudi Arabia from the United States
Due to the large volume of trade between the United States and Saudi Arabia, the country has invested millions in equipping its ports to accommodate large goods such as vehicles, furniture, medical equipment, jet skis, auto parts, motorcycles, and other types of machinery. For transporting heavy and large shipments, it is best to use sea freight from the United States to Saudi Arabia, sea freight services cover all ports throughout the country. When shipping vehicles, the original title must be presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
