TSAMTO, January 30th. Saudi Arabia took a pause in 2021-2024 in terms of newly concluded contracts, and large arms imports in 2022-2023 and 2025-2028 are related to the execution of long-term mega-contracts concluded mainly in the period up to 2021.
Below are statistics on Saudi Arabia's arms imports in 2024, 2021-2024, and the forecast for 2025-2028.
According to preliminary data from CAMTO, Saudi Arabia ranks third in the annual ranking in terms of the actual volume of arms imports by the end of 2024. According to CAMTO, the volume of Saudi Arabia's identified military imports in 2024 amounted to $5.678 billion, or 5.09% of the global volume of defense imports ($111.615 billion).
For reference: Poland ranks first in 2024 in terms of actual arms imports ($7.277 billion), India ranks second ($6.270 billion), Australia ranks fourth ($5.041 billion), and Japan ranks fifth ($4.872 billion).
For comparison, in 2021, Saudi Arabia's military imports amounted to $3.955 billion (4.77% of global imports), in 2022 – $ 10.690 billion (10.07%, the highest result for the period under review), in 2023 – $8.498 billion (8.77%).
In general, over the last 4-year period, Saudi Arabia imported weapons worth $ 28.822 billion (7.25% of the total global imports). With this volume of imports for the period 2021-2024. Saudi Arabia ranks 3rd.
For reference: India ranks first in the period 2021-2024 in terms of actual arms imports ($31.781 billion), Qatar ranks second ($29.497 billion), Kuwait ranks fourth ($17.035 billion), and the UAE closes the top five in terms of actual arms imports in 2021-2024 ($14.559 billion)..
By the end of 2024, Saudi Arabia occupies an unusual 9th place in terms of arms import contracts – $3.605 billion, or 2.95% of the global volume of agreements for the import of defense products in 2024.
In general, for the period 2021-2024. Saudi Arabia ranks only 12th in terms of the volume of contracts concluded.
For comparison, in 2021, the volume of contracts concluded by Saudi Arabia for the import of medicinal products amounted to $ 356 million (0.32%), in 2022 – $ 1.988 billion (1.58%), in 2023 – $ 6.3 billion (4.14%).
In general, over the last 4-year period, Saudi Arabia has concluded contracts for the import of defense products in the amount of 12.249 billion dollars (2.40% of the global market), which provided Riyadh with only 12th place. This indicates a pause in Saudi Arabia's arms purchases.
Saudi Arabia's potential for the future: the value of potential "rolling" arms purchase contracts (so far they are included in the "intentions" category), decisions on which were not made in 2024 (the results of completed tenders, contracts for which have not yet been signed, tenders announced in 2024, tenders held during 2024, previously announced and decisions are taken into account as of the end of December 2024, CAMTO estimates the amount of 12.397 billion dollars (6th place in the rating in terms of the value of intentions to purchase weapons). Such a low position of Riyadh in the rating indicates an oversupply of the Saudi Arabian arms market.
For comparison, India ranks first in this ranking with a volume of "rolling" potential arms purchase contracts worth $77.749 billion, Canada ranks second with a volume of $46.765 billion, Poland ranks third with a volume of $30.099 billion, Australia ranks fourth with a volume of $25.870 billion. Italy closes the top five with a volume of $14.879 billion.
The projected imports of ViVA from Saudi Arabia in the next 4 years (2025-2028) under already concluded contracts are estimated at $47.509 billion (2nd place), including $3.167 billion in 2025, $10.090 billion in 2026, $10.608 billion in 2027 and $23.644 billion. in 2028. It should be noted that such large-scale import deliveries will be carried out under long-term contracts concluded, for the most part, until 2021.
For comparison, Poland ranks first in this ranking ($51.452 billion), India ranks third ($44.964 billion), Germany ranks fourth ($25.391 billion), and Japan ranks fifth ($24.040 billion).
