In 2018, Saudi Arabia was ranked 28th as a major export destination for the United States with $22.4 billion in goods and services. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Saudis were the second-largest trading partner of the United States in 2018. The Department of Commerce states that exporting goods and services to Saudi Arabia supports over 160,000 jobs. Key exports to the Saudi market from the United States include vehicles, machinery, equipment, arms and ammunition, and food products.
Required Documents for Shipping from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia
The country requires most of the standard shipping documents necessary for any shipment coming into its borders, 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.
Arabic translation accompanying the radiation certificate where applicable.
Report of results or SASO issued by an accredited inspection company from the country of origin.
A certificate of conformity according to Saudi standards is also needed for certain goods and products, and the expiration date of food products and nutritional ingredients must be printed clearly in Arabic according to Saudi specifications. For importing pharmaceuticals, especially if they are herbal, registration with the Saudi Ministry of Health is required.
Prohibited Imports to Saudi Arabia
It is important to remember that Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country. Entry into the country with religious texts is prohibited, so 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 prohibited but can be imported with special government approval. These include chemicals and hazardous materials, agricultural seeds, antique artifacts, live animals, wireless equipment, radio-controlled aircraft, religious books and audio materials, natural asphalt, and perfumes containing alcohol. Importing such items may lead to legal issues with Saudi authorities.
Customs Duties
Imported goods that compete heavily with similar locally produced goods are subject to duties ranging between 12% and 20% depending on the type of goods and industry. However, higher duties are imposed on some imported food items to protect local producers. Luxury goods tend to have higher rates. For example, a 100% customs duty is imposed on all tobacco products, including cigarettes, as well as energy drinks. Soft drinks are charged at a rate of 50%.
International trade agreements are renegotiated every two years between investing countries.
Shipping and Customs Clearance Procedures
Contact your preferred shipping company and provide the following information:
Shipping location and final destination of the shipment.
Weight and dimensions of the container or shipment.
Description of the shipment.
The shipping agent, using all the provided shipment information, will obtain their Saudi counterpart to ensure shipping charges outside the port and the relevant documents for smooth customs clearance.
The information is then returned to the sender who handles the following Saudi customs charges: handling and customs clearance fees, air or sea transportation costs, and door delivery fees. Once this is done, the shipping agent collects the shipment from the sender to Los Angeles Airport for air shipment to Riyadh. If the shipment is sent by sea, it will be dispatched 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 customs broker in Saudi Arabia to clear the goods and a copy of the business license. The shipping agent then contacts the customer once the shipment arrives at the customs destination to inform them of the shipment’s arrival and arrange a local delivery time.
Shipping Large Goods to Saudi Arabia from the USA
Due to the massive trade between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, the country has invested millions in upgrading its ports to handle large goods such as vehicles, furniture, medical equipment, jet skis, auto parts, motorcycles, and other types of machinery. For heavy and large shipments, it is best to use sea freight from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia as sea freight services cover all ports across the country. When shipping vehicles, the original customs declaration from U.S. Customs and Border Protection must be provided.
