From booming exports to soaring consumption, the Saudi food industry is a multi-billion dollar juggernaut transforming its plates and its economy at a remarkable pace.
Key Takeaways
- Saudi Arabia's food and beverage market was valued at USD 24.5 billion in 2023, projected to reach USD 35.2 billion by 2028 with a CAGR of 7.5%
- The packaged food segment in Saudi Arabia generated revenue of USD 12.3 billion in 2023, growing at 6.8% annually
- Saudi food service market size reached USD 15.7 billion in 2022, expected to grow to USD 22.1 billion by 2027 at 7.1% CAGR
- Saudi Arabia produced 1.2 million metric tons of wheat in 2022/23 season
- Local milk production reached 2.8 billion liters in 2023, covering 45% of demand
- Poultry meat production hit 1.6 million tons in 2023, up 3% from previous year
- Per capita food consumption in Saudi Arabia averaged 1,200 kg annually in 2022
- Annual dairy consumption per capita reached 180 liters in 2023
- Poultry meat consumption was 45 kg per capita in 2023, up from 42 kg in 2020
- Saudi food exports reached USD 2.1 billion in 2023, led by dates and dairy
- Food imports totaled USD 18.5 billion in 2023, 85% of total food needs
- Date exports volume was 320,000 tons in 2023
- FDI in Saudi food industry totaled USD 1.2 billion in 2023
- Vision 2030 allocated SAR 10 billion for food security projects by 2025
- Almarai invested SAR 2.5 billion in new dairy facilities in 2023
Saudi Arabia's rapidly growing food market is driven by strong local production and high consumption.
Consumption Patterns
1Per capita food consumption in Saudi Arabia averaged 1,200 kg annually in 2022
Verified2Annual dairy consumption per capita reached 180 liters in 2023
Verified3Poultry meat consumption was 45 kg per capita in 2023, up from 42 kg in 2020
Verified4Soft drinks consumption totaled 150 liters per capita in 2022
Directional5Bread and bakery products consumption averaged 90 kg per person yearly in 2023
Single source6Fresh fruit intake was 120 kg per capita in 2022
Verified7Sugar consumption reached 35 kg per capita annually in 2023
Verified8Processed food consumption grew 6% YoY to 40% of total diet in 2023
Verified9Halal-certified food demand accounted for 95% of total consumption in 2023
Directional10Ready-to-eat meals consumption surged 12% in urban areas in 2023
Single source11Per capita meat consumption averaged 55 kg in 2023
Verified12Bottled water consumption was 200 liters per capita in 2023
Verified13Coffee consumption grew to 3.5 kg per capita annually in 2023
Verified14Tea intake averaged 1.2 kg per person in 2022
Directional15Chocolate confectionery consumption was 4 kg per capita in 2023
Single source16Yogurt consumption reached 25 liters per capita in 2023
Verified17Pasta consumption totaled 12 kg per capita yearly in 2023
Verified18Energy drinks consumption surged 15% to 20 liters per capita in 2023
VerifiedConsumption Patterns Interpretation
The Saudis are enthusiastically fueling their modern lifestyle with a deeply traditional, halal-certified plate, where the sacred coffee pot shares the table with a worrying amount of sugar and a rapidly growing army of ready-to-eat meals.
Investments and Future Projections
1FDI in Saudi food industry totaled USD 1.2 billion in 2023
Verified2Vision 2030 allocated SAR 10 billion for food security projects by 2025
Verified3Almarai invested SAR 2.5 billion in new dairy facilities in 2023
Verified4Number of food processing plants increased to 5,200 in 2023
Directional5Government subsidies for local agriculture reached SAR 4.8 billion in 2023
Single source6Projected CAGR for organic food market is 11.2% to 2028
Verified7Savola Group planned SAR 3 billion investment in edible oils by 2025
Verified8Food tech startups raised USD 250 million in 2023
Verified9Food market projected to grow at 6.5% CAGR to USD 40 billion by 2030
Directional10National Food Industries Co. invested SAR 1.5 billion in new plants in 2023
Single source11Desert Control tech investment USD 50 million for agriculture in 2024-2028
Verified12Food localization program aims for 50% local production by 2030
Verified13SAR 7 billion allocated for fisheries development till 2025
Verified14E-commerce food sales projected to reach 15% of market by 2027
Directional15Tanmiah Foods expansion investment SAR 800 million for poultry
Single source16Sustainable packaging investments USD 300 million by 2025
Verified17AI in supply chain pilots funded SAR 500 million in 2023
VerifiedInvestments and Future Projections Interpretation
The Saudis are no longer just praying for rain; they're buying the cloud with billions in FDI, tech startups, and desert agriculture to ensure their future buffet is homegrown, high-tech, and deliciously secure.
Market Overview
1Saudi Arabia's food and beverage market was valued at USD 24.5 billion in 2023, projected to reach USD 35.2 billion by 2028 with a CAGR of 7.5%
Verified2The packaged food segment in Saudi Arabia generated revenue of USD 12.3 billion in 2023, growing at 6.8% annually
Verified3Saudi food service market size reached USD 15.7 billion in 2022, expected to grow to USD 22.1 billion by 2027 at 7.1% CAGR
Verified4Overall food market in KSA expanded by 5.2% YoY in 2023, driven by population growth and urbanization
Directional5Dairy products market in Saudi Arabia valued at USD 4.2 billion in 2023, with 8% growth forecast
Single source6Bakery products sector generated SAR 18.5 billion in revenue in 2022
Verified7Confectionery market size in KSA was USD 1.8 billion in 2023
Verified8Saudi meat processing market reached USD 3.1 billion in 2023
Verified9Poultry market value stood at USD 2.9 billion in 2022, growing 4.5% annually
Directional10Saudi fruits and vegetables market valued at USD 5.6 billion in 2023
Single source11Saudi Arabia's food market revenue grew 4.8% YoY to USD 25.1 billion in 2023 Q4
Verified12Non-alcoholic beverages segment valued at USD 5.4 billion in 2023
Verified13Instant noodles market size was USD 320 million in 2023
Verified14Edible oils market reached SAR 12 billion in 2022
Directional15Snacks market generated USD 2.1 billion revenue in 2023
Single source16Rice market value stood at USD 1.5 billion in 2023
Verified17Saudi food retail market size was USD 30 billion in 2023
Verified18Frozen food sales increased 9% to USD 1.8 billion in 2023
VerifiedMarket Overview Interpretation
The Saudi food industry is a meticulously plated feast of relentless growth, where every sector from the humble instant noodle to the grand dairy aisle is expanding with a voracious appetite that suggests the nation isn't just eating, but strategically building an edible economy.
Production Statistics
1Saudi Arabia produced 1.2 million metric tons of wheat in 2022/23 season
Verified2Local milk production reached 2.8 billion liters in 2023, covering 45% of demand
Verified3Poultry meat production hit 1.6 million tons in 2023, up 3% from previous year
Verified4Date production totaled 1.5 million metric tons in 2022, making KSA top global producer
Directional5Red meat production was 450,000 tons in 2023
Single source6Aquaculture output reached 120,000 tons of fish in 2023
Verified7Tomato production amounted to 850,000 tons in 2022 greenhouse season
Verified8Saudi sugar beet production was 300,000 tons in 2022/23
Verified9Olive oil production increased to 25,000 tons in 2023
Directional10Egg production totaled 4.2 billion units in 2023
Single source11Saudi wheat production fell to 800,000 tons in 2023/24 due to water scarcity
Verified12Local poultry production capacity utilization was 92% in 2023
Verified13Fresh milk output from cooperatives reached 1.1 billion liters in 2023
Verified14Barley production totaled 250,000 tons in 2022/23
Directional15Greenhouse vegetable production hit 2.1 million tons in 2023
Single source16Honey production was 120,000 tons in 2023
Verified17Citrus fruit production reached 1.2 million tons in 2022
Verified18Maize production stood at 180,000 tons in 2023
Verified19Almond production increased to 15,000 tons in 2023
DirectionalProduction Statistics Interpretation
While the desert may be better known for its oil, Saudi Arabia's dinner plate tells a more diverse story of wheat fluctuating with the water table, mountains of dates and rivers of milk striving for self-sufficiency, and a whole lot of chickens running very efficiently at 92% capacity.
Trade and Exports
1Saudi food exports reached USD 2.1 billion in 2023, led by dates and dairy
Verified2Food imports totaled USD 18.5 billion in 2023, 85% of total food needs
Verified3Date exports volume was 320,000 tons in 2023
Verified4Dairy exports grew to USD 450 million in 2023
Directional5Poultry exports reached 150,000 tons to GCC countries in 2023
Single source6Food import from UAE was USD 3.2 billion in 2023
Verified7Live animal imports for slaughter totaled 4.5 million heads in 2023 Hajj season
Verified8Fruit imports value hit USD 2.8 billion, mainly apples and bananas, in 2023
Verified9Vegetable imports reached USD 1.9 billion in 2023
Directional10Saudi agricultural exports grew 8% to USD 2.5 billion in 2023
Single source11Imports of wheat reached 3.5 million tons in 2023
Verified12Dairy imports valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2023, mainly from New Zealand
Verified13Lamb imports for Eid totaled 2.8 million heads in 2023
Verified14Palm oil imports were 1.1 million tons in 2023
Directional15Soybean imports reached 2.2 million tons for animal feed in 2023
Single source16Frozen fish imports totaled USD 800 million in 2023
Verified17Rice imports volume was 1.3 million tons in 2023
VerifiedTrade and Exports Interpretation
The Kingdom’s gourmet strategy appears to be a tale of two tables: it proudly exports its dates and dairy as luxury staples while its own plate remains overwhelmingly filled by a massive global shopping list, revealing a delicious but deep-seated dependency.
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