Saudi Arabia: Supply and Demand Projections for Farm Products to 1975, with Implications for U.S. Exports

Excerpts from the report: Because of the country's intemperately hot and dry climate, plus scarcity of rainfall and of underground water, only about 0.13 percent of its total area is cultivated. Consequently, Saudi Arabia is a food-deficit country. Dates are the only major staple food whose production has been sufficient to meet local demand. U.S. trade data show that agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia totaled $10 million in 1962, $13.5 million in 1963, and $14.1 million in 1964. However, such exports consist almost entirely of two commodities--rice and wheat flour. During 1962-64, each of these commodities represented about 40 percent of the value of U.S. agricultural exports to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is expected to substantially increase its imports of feed grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and vegetable oils through 1975. However, the United States has been an insignificant supplier of all these commodities.