Agricultural Trade Performance and Food Security in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia relies heavily on food importsFood imports because of a lack of adequate agricultural resources. This study examines the connection between agricultural tradeAgricultural trade performance and food securityFood security in the country. The analysis of trade performance shows a significant positive difference between the period after Saudi Arabia joined the WTOWorld Trade Organization (WTO) and the period before, in terms, of the value of exportsExport and importsImports, as well as their share in the GDPGross Domestic Product (GDP). The country’s overall trade share in the world marketWorld market has also expanded since joining the WTOWorld Trade Organization (WTO). The measured overall openness index indicates an improvement in the country’s integration in the world marketWorld market following its accession to the WTOWorld Trade Organization (WTO). However, the total exportExport growth decreased during the second period after joining the WTOWorld Trade Organization (WTO), while total importImports growth increased. This decline in exportExport growth was mainly due to a sharp decrease in oilOils pricesPrices. As for agricultural tradeAgricultural trade, the share of agricultural exportsExport in total exportsExport decreased after joining the WTOWorld Trade Organization (WTO), although the value of both agricultural exportsExport and importsImports increased. Saudi Arabia remains a net importer of food products, and this situation has worsened since joining the WTOWorld Trade Organization (WTO). The comparative advantage of the agricultural sectorAgricultural sector has deteriorated more after the WTOWorld Trade Organization (WTO) accession, but this is mainly due to other factors, such as a shortage of underground water and changes in agricultural policy, rather than the accession to the WTOWorld Trade Organization (WTO).