RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s industrial production rebounded 3.2 percent in May from April, led by broad gains across mining, manufacturing and utilities, official data showed.
Despite the monthly gain, industrial activity remained weaker than a year earlier — down 18.7 percent — as lower oil-related production continued to weigh on the Kingdom’s overall performance, according to preliminary figures released by the General Authority for Statistics.
The data comes in the wake of the US-Iran conflict, which disrupted regional supply chains and industrial activity across parts of the Middle East, adding to economic uncertainty.
In its latest report, GASTAT stated: “Preliminary results indicate a decrease of 18.7 percent in the Industrial Production Index in May 2026 compared to the same month of the previous year, affected by the decline in mining and quarrying activity and manufacturing activity.”
The authority said the Kingdom’s mining and quarrying activity recorded a 28.6 percent year-on-year drop in May, while manufacturing activity declined 6.2 percent.
