The latest Riyad Bank Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), released on Sunday, showed that growth in Saudi Arabia's non-oil private sector accelerated markedly at the end of the second quarter.
The improvement was driven by the strongest increase in new orders and new business in four months, helping business activity regain strong momentum despite continued challenges from weak export demand and mounting inflationary pressures.
The seasonally adjusted headline index rose to 53.3 in June from 52.8 in May, remaining above the 50.0 threshold that separates growth from contraction and signaling a solid improvement in overall operating conditions and the domestic business environment.
Domestic demand rebounds
The report attributed the latest upturn to stronger inflows of new business and higher domestic spending, supported by companies securing approvals for new projects and the resumption of previously delayed sales activity as concerns over regional tensions eased. This helped bolster confidence among both investors and consumers across the kingdom.
The data showed sustained growth in output, with around 18% of surveyed firms reporting higher activity levels, while only 2% recorded a decline in output during June.
Commenting on the survey, Riyad Bank Chief Economist Naif Alghaith said: "Strong output growth, alongside the fastest increase in new orders in four months, indicates that business activity regained positive momentum at the end of the second quarter. These results once again demonstrate the resilience of the domestic economy and the non-oil sector's ability to provide a solid foundation for the kingdom's broader economic growth."
Alghaith added, highlighting companies' operating strategies: "Operationally, firms maintained strict discipline, with employment levels broadly unchanged, while backlogs of work declined for the first time in a year. This suggests companies were able to absorb rising workloads without creating capacity constraints, while prioritizing operational efficiency and measured expansion."
Exports weaken
On the other hand, the report said the rebound in the domestic market contrasted with export performance, as new orders from overseas clients declined for a fourth consecutive month, weighed down by regional logistical disruptions and intensifying competition in external markets.
Price pressures also remained the biggest challenge facing businesses. Input costs recorded their strongest quarterly increase in 15 years, driven by higher fuel, freight and wage costs. The sustained cost pressures prompted around 22% of surveyed firms to raise prices for their goods and services, resulting in the second-fastest increase in output charges in nearly six years.
Alghaith commented on how firms are managing these challenges, saying: "Despite continued cost pressures, companies appear able to manage them prudently without materially affecting overall optimism or the level of activity. This in turn reflects the underlying resilience of businesses and their strong ability to strike a careful balance between maintaining profitability and pursuing sustainable expansion in the market."
