Manufacturing, Mining Sectors Drive Saudi Industrial Growth to 3.1%: GASTAT

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index expanded by 3.1 percent year on year in April, driven by strong growth in the manufacturing, mining, and quarrying industries, official data showed. 

According to preliminary data from the General Authority for Statistics, the Kingdom’s IPI advanced to 108.6 in April, representing a 0.6 percent rise compared to the previous month. 

The latest IPI figures reinforce the progress of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification journey, which aims to reduce the Kingdom’s decades-long dependence on crude revenues. 

“Preliminary results indicated a 3.1 percent increase in the IPI in April 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year, supported by the rise in mining and quarrying activity, manufacturing activity and water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities,” the analysis stated.

GASTAT revealed that the sub-index of manufacturing activities advanced by 7.4 percent in April compared to the same month in 2024. 

The authority added that the index of oil activities saw an annual rise of 4.3 percent in the fourth month of the year, while non-oil activities edged up by 0.1 percent. Compared with March, oil activities rose by 1.6 percent, whereas non-oil activities declined by 2 percent.

GASTAT added that the growth in the manufacturing sector was driven by an increase in the production of coke and refined petroleum products, which grew by 22.6 percent year on year in April. 

The chemical manufacturing sector also contributed to the rise, increasing 9.1 percent annually. 

On a monthly basis, the sub-index of manufacturing activity witnessed a rise of 0.5 percent, driven by a 5.8 percent increase in the production of coke and refined petroleum products. 

The expansion of the manufacturing sector highlights the evolving structural transformation of the Saudi economy, with the Kingdom positioning itself as a key player in the global industrial landscape. 

In April, the sub-index of mining and quarrying activities increased by 0.2 percent compared to the same month in 2024. 

“Saudi Arabia increased its oil production to 9.01 million barrels per day in April 2025 compared to 8.99 million barrels per day in April 2024,” said GASTAT. 

On a monthly basis, the sub-index of mining and quarrying activity increased by 0.5 percent in April. 

According to the report, the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply sector registered an annual decrease of 0.2 percent but saw a monthly rise of 4.3 percent. 

GASTAT further said that water supply, sewerage, and waste management activities increased by 8.8 percent year on year in April, while it declined by 0.7 percent compared to the previous month. 

Compared to March, the index for oil activities increased by 1.6 percent in April, while non-oil activities dropped by 2 percent. 

The Industrial Production Index measures changes in industrial output based on the International Standard Industrial Classification framework, covering mining, manufacturing, utilities, and waste management sectors.