Saudi imports from Turkey rise to over $220 mln as public shuns boycott calls

Calls to boycott Turkish products in Saudi Arabia that appeared to be gaining momentum on social media seem to have fallen on deaf ears as newly-released data showed that the Kingdom’s imports rose to over $220 million.

Saudi Arabia’s imports from Turkey actually rose in August, up from the previous month, according to official data on Sunday, despite an informal boycott that has gained momentum with Saudi businessmen and retailers calling for a ban on “everything Turkish.”

For over a year, some Saudi and Turkish traders have speculated that Riyadh was enforcing an informal boycott due to political tensions between the two countries, but that has yet to be reflected in trade figures.

The value of imports from Turkey increased to 833.6 million riyals ($222.28 million) in August from 693.4 million in July, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, making Turkey the ninth biggest exporter to Saudi Arabia. Saudi imports from Turkey were also up month on month in July.

Exporters in Turkey said they have recently experienced growing difficulties with the kingdom. The head of Saudi Arabia’s non-governmental Chambers of Commerce this month called for a boycott of Turkish products, and the main supermarket chains have said they would not restock Turkish goods.

On social media, hashtags urging a boycott of Turkish products have been trending over the last month.

Saudi Arabia and Turkey have been at odds for some years over foreign policy and attitudes towards Islamist political groups. The murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi’s Istanbul consulate in 2018 escalated tensions sharply.

The Saudi government for its part has said authorities have not placed any restrictions on Turkish goods.