Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Mar 15, 2026

Saudi Arabia tops G20 in non-oil private sector PMI for January 2023, grows 29 months straight

Saudi Arabia tops G20 in non-oil private sector PMI for January 2023, grows 29 months straight

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia topped the G20 countries in the performance of the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the non-oil private sector in January 2023, recording headline growth at 58.2 points, marking consecutive growth since September 2020.
The score illustrates the strength and resilience of the Kingdom's economy amid instability in the international markets.

The index revealed stronger commercial activity and a rise in demand for goods and services in the non-oil private sector, amid expectations within the sector that strong growth would continue despite global geopolitical developments, climate change, and increasing global uncertainty.

The index's rise coincided with robust private sector output, which had kept pace with strong domestic demand for goods and services, driven by improvements in the most key sub-indices: Output, New Orders, New Export Orders, Stocks of Purchases, and Increased Client Orders.

The rise in the Kingdom's PMI demonstrates growing confidence and optimism among investors and business owners, leading to a more positive outlook for the future.

The most remarkable points recorded in the index include reduced input cost pressures, reflecting the success of policies to contain the global inflationary wave in many sectors of the Kingdom, as well as continued improvements in supply chains as a result of policies to diversify the economy and enhance its flexibility over the last period.

The economic reforms for national transformation in accordance with Saudi Vision 2030 have contributed to empowering the Kingdom's private sector by improving the quality, efficiency, and digitization of government services for businesses, as well as establishing programs, initiatives, incubators, and accelerators.

The private sector has benefitted from government support provided through the Shareek program where 28 companies have received SR192 billion of investment. The number of foreign investment licenses also increased in 2022, as a result of efforts to promote FDI and allowing violators of the anti-concealment law to correct their status.

The headline index rose from 56.9 points in December 2022 to 58.2 points in January 2023, above the 50.0 value separating growth from contraction. The reading was also the second-highest recorded since September 2021.

New order inflows, boosting the growth of non-oil activity, accounted for the largest increase in 16 months, to 65.3 points. This growth contributed to increased business and investor optimism, and the continuation of their expansion plans in conjunction with the improvement of market conditions.

The non-oil private sector PMI is based on questionnaires given to purchasing managers in a panel of around 400 private sector businesses engaged in industries including manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail, and services.

The index is a weighted average of the following five indices: New Orders 30%, Production 25%, Employment 20%, Suppliers' Delivery Times 15%, and Procurement Stocks 10%.

The Kingdom’s PMI experienced impressive growth at the same time the Kingdom’s GDP growth rate was the fastest-growing among G20 countries in 2022.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Saudi Arabia Declares 2026 ‘Year of Artificial Intelligence’ in Major Push for Data-Driven Economy
Saudi Arabia’s 2018 Budget Signals Strong Push for Non-Oil Economic Growth
Pakistan Envoy in Riyadh Says Regional Diplomacy Intensifying to Prevent Wider Middle East War
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Dozens of Drones as Regional Strikes Kill Two in Oman
Saudi Arabia Redirects Oil Exports to Red Sea Ports as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Escalate
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Missile and Drone Barrage as Regional Conflict Intensifies
Iran Expands Drone and Missile Campaign Across Gulf as Conflict With US and Israel Intensifies
Muslims Worldwide Await Saudi Moon Sighting to Confirm Eid al-Fitr 2026 Date
F1 Calendar Faces Major Disruption as Middle East Conflict Threatens Bahrain and Saudi Races
Trump Says Most US Aircraft Hit in Saudi Base Attack Suffered Minimal Damage
Trump Says Most US Aircraft Hit in Saudi Base Attack Suffered Minimal Damage
Strait of Hormuz Crisis Forces Saudi Arabia Into Major Oil Production Shut-In
Strait of Hormuz Crisis Forces Saudi Arabia Into Major Oil Production Shut-In
Saudi Arabia Slashes Oil Output as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Cuts Deep Into Gulf Revenues
Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Scene Presses Ahead as Nation Navigates Regional War
Saudi-Pakistan Defence Pact Faces Real-World Constraints as Iran War Escalates
Saudi Arabia Offers Two Million Barrels of Crude From Red Sea as War Disrupts Gulf Exports
Formula One Faces Tens of Millions in Lost Revenue if Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Races Are Cancelled
Formula One Set to Cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix Amid Escalating Middle East War
Saudi Arabia Downs Dozens of Iranian Drones in Major Defensive Operation
Saudi Arabia Cuts Oil Output by About Twenty Percent as Iran War Disrupts Gulf Energy Flows
Formula One Set to Cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix Amid Escalating Iran War
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
Iran Sets Three Conditions for Ending Regional War as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Saudi Arabia Launches Royal Institute of Anthropology to Examine Social Transformation
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Arrives in Saudi Arabia for High-Level Talks
Saudi Aramco Turns to Ukrainian Drone Interceptors to Shield Oil Infrastructure from Iranian Threats
UK Foreign Secretary Travels to Saudi Arabia to Reinforce Support for Regional Allies
Rising Iran Conflict Casts Shadow Over Saudi Arabia’s $38 Billion Gaming Industry Ambitions
Iran Launches Missile and Drone Strikes Across Gulf as Oil Prices Surge Past $100
Saudi Air Defences Destroy Three Drones Targeting Strategic Shaybah Oil Field
Debate Grows Over Saudi Arabia’s Role in Sudan War Amid US Alliance Questions
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Travels to Saudi Arabia After Discussions With Iranian Leadership
Two Strategic Pipelines Allow Saudi Arabia and the UAE to Bypass the Strait of Hormuz
US Deploys Bunker-Buster Bombs to UK Airbase as Iran Conflict Intensifies
Iran warns of $200 oil as forces target merchant ships in Gulf
Japan to Release 45 Days of Oil Reserves Amid Iran Conflict
Saudi Red Sea Oil Exports Set for Record in March as Kingdom Reroutes Crude Amid Hormuz Crisis
Saudi Arabia Seeks Belgian Military Support After Iranian Missile Attacks
Saudi Arabia Welcomes US Decision to Designate Sudan’s Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organisation
Saudi Aramco Plans Dual Gulf and Red Sea Export Routes as Iran Crisis Disrupts Oil Shipments
Saudi Cabinet Condemns Iranian Attacks and Reaffirms Kingdom’s Right to Defend Its Sovereignty
Ukraine Deploys Counter-Drone Teams to Gulf States as Iranian Drone Threat Expands
Bahrain Grand Prix Faces Uncertainty as Saudi Arabia Works to Keep Formula One Race on Track
Saudi Arabia Faces New Strategic Dilemma in Yemen as Regional War Reshapes Calculations
OPEC Confirms Saudi-Led Oil Output Increase as Iran War Disrupts Global Energy Markets
Pakistan Pledges Rapid Support for Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Global Energy Agency Announces Record Release of 400 Million Barrels to Stabilize Oil Markets Amid Hormuz Disruption
Aramco Warns Global Oil Market Faces ‘Catastrophic’ Shock if Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed
Iran Launches Drone and Missile Attacks Across Gulf Targets Including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain
×