Due to the construction boom which is continuing in Saudi Arabia for long years from now, and experiences gained by the national private sector enterprises over decades in construction and infrastructure works in the Kingdom's projects, the Secretary General of the Saudi Export Development Authority, Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al-Hakbani revealed that Kingdom's exports of building materials to international markets during 2013 amounted to SR 10.6 billion. He pointed out that the highest share of exports was steel products, which amounted to a percentage of nearly 27% of the total exports.
During a dinner party to honor the participating companies in the international exhibition of building and construction "Big 5" in Dubai, Al-Hakbani explained that the metal sheets came in the second place of the total exports by 18%. In addition, the Saudi exports of pipes amounted to 16%, while the electrical wires accounted for 15% of the total national exports to the international markets.
During his presentation yesterday, Al-Hakbani said: "With regard to Saudi exports of paints and dyes, their increase amounted to 10% of total exports, which stood at SR 10.6 billion in 2013. Gypsum scored 7% of the exports, while the Kingdom's products of glass and ceramics scored 5%. In addition, exports of other building materials were about 2%, of the total amount."
In his speech, Al-Hakbani stressed that the Saudi factories exported many valuable products as well as building materials, such as specialized security appliances, lighting of all kinds, in addition to insulated aluminum sheets. He added that "the Kingdom has also exported products, such as the electronic control and distribution circuits, electrical breakers and connections, which have gained high confidence by consumers and importers in several countries like America, France, the Netherlands and Russia, and finally Greece. Their exports have exceeded SR 23 million for 2013".
The Secretary General of the Exports Development Authority said: "Facts and figures achieved by the exporting Saudi factories, make us more optimistic about domestic industry and the competitive level that locally manufactured products may reach at the international level.
Regarding the Authority's participation with about 100 companies in the Saudi Pavilion at the International Exhibition of Construction and Building "Big 5", Al-Hakbani stressed that last year's participation was minor compared to this year. The Kingdom participated in the previous round of the exhibition with 27 companies only, while the number of Saudi exhibitors doubled three folds from last year.
Al-Hakbani added: "In the Big 5 Exhibition next year 2015, we are seeking to have a greater number of companies."