Kuwait trade surplus falls 28.8 percent to 7.8 billion dinars in 11 months
Oil still dominates as Kuwait trade balance weakens despite Gulf export growth
Kuwait’s trade surplus recorded a decline during the first 11 months of 2025 by 28.8 percent, amounting to 3.16 billion dinars, reaching 7.796 billion, compared to 10.96 billion in the corresponding period of 2024, due to a decline in exports and an increase in imports.
Meanwhile, the surplus declined during November 2025 by 19.6 percent, reaching 646.87 million, compared to 804.25 million in November 2024.
Data from the Central Statistical Bureau showed that Kuwait’s exports fell by 8.4 percent in the first 11 months, amounting to 19.655 billion, compared to 21.463 billion. In contrast, November exports declined by 5.1 percent to 1.737 billion, compared to 1.83 billion.
Kuwait’s imports increased by 12.9 percent, amounting to 1.355 billion, to reach 11.858 billion, compared to 10.502 billion. They also rose in November by 6.3 percent to reach 1.09 billion, compared to 1.026 billion in November 2024, reports Al-Rai daily.
The sharp decline in Kuwait’s trade surplus during the first 11 months reflects an imbalance in the structure of foreign trade, driven by a simultaneous decrease in exports and an increase in imports. Despite a slight improvement in export performance during some months, this was not enough to offset the large annual decline.
Trade exchange declined during the first 11 months of 2025 by about 1.41 percent, with a value of 452.41 million, to reach 31.513 billion, compared to 31.966 billion, and it declined in November by 1 percent to 2.828 billion, compared to 2.856 billion in the same month.
China was the leading exporter to Kuwait, followed by the UAE and then the United States. The UAE was the top importer of non-oil goods from Kuwait, followed by Saudi Arabia, then India, China, and Malaysia.
Exports of oil and its derivatives during November amounted to 1.494 billion, representing about 86 percent of total monthly exports, registering a decline of 10.1 percent compared to 1.662 billion in November 2024. Non-oil exports rose to 115.46 million, compared to 108.08 million in the corresponding month.
China was the top importing country with a value of 222.79 million, followed by the UAE with 107.03 million, then America with 103.46 million, and fourthly Japan with 65.87 million.
The UAE topped the list of countries that received Kuwaiti exports, excluding oil and its derivatives, with 60.9 million, followed by India with 29.63 million, then Saudi Arabia with 32.97 million, followed by India with 29.63 million, then China with about 28.37 million, followed by Malaysia with 13.72 million.
Kuwaiti exports to the Gulf countries reached 104.66 million in November, compared to 67.52 million in the same month of 2024, an increase of 55 percent. The share of Kuwaiti exports to the Gulf countries rose by 6 percent during the month, after it had been 3.7 percent.
