Saudi Arabia's total exports dropped 8.9 per cent to SR1.28 trillion ($342.28 billion) last year, while its imports rose 3.3 per cent to SR651.88 billion, according to a report.

The kingdom’s oil exports comprised 83 per cent of the total value of exports at SR1.06 trillion, the Saudi Central Department of Statistics and Information revealed in the Saudi Gazette report.

The value of chemical industries' exports reached SR73.94 billion, while plastic and rubber products hit SR71.12 billion.

Meanwhile, machinery and electrical appliances were Saudi Arabia's top imports with their value standing at SR171.01 billion, comprising 26.2 per cent of the total value of imports.

Other top imports include transport machinery at SR108.61 billion and metals at SR79.75 billion/

The US was Saudi Arabia's top exports' destination, accounting for 12.6 per cent of the kingdom’s exports, followed by China and Japan, said the report.

China accounted for the largest proportion of Saudi Arabia's imports at 13.6 per cent of the Arab nation's total imports, followed by the US and Germany, it said.

The high growth has been attributed to the surging demand for better biometric technologies in the country, from government, BFSI, consumer electronics, and energy (specifically oil and gas) sectors.

The use of biometric mobile applications is a major trend emerging in Saudi Arabia biometric systems market, aimed at providing a more secure environment for e-commerce and mobile banking.

Expanding use of multi-modal biometric systems, adoption of new technologies, and anticipated decline in average selling prices, are projected to further escalate the demand for biometric devices over the forecast period, said the report.

Saudi Arabia biometric systems market, which includes manufacturing and supply of biometric devices, is majorly dominated by global players, such as Morpho Safran, ZK Technlogy, and Suprema, it added.