In 2024, Saudi Arabia was the world’s 2d-ranked producer of diammonium phosphate after China, accounting for 12% of global production; the 4th-ranked producer of sulfur, pumice, and direct-reduced iron, accounting for 8.6% (estimated), 4.9% (estimated), and 4.7%, respectively; the 5th-ranked producer of titanium sponge (excluding the United States), accounting for 3.7% (estimated); the 6th-ranked producer of phosphate rock and nitrogen (ammonia), accounting for 4.2% and 3.3%, respectively; the 7th-ranked producer of alumina, accounting for 1.3%; the 8th-ranked producer of bauxite (excluding the United States), accounting for 1.3%; the 9th-ranked producer of feldspar (tied with Russia), accounting for 2.1% (estimated); the 11th-ranked producer of cement, accounting for 1.3% (estimated); the 15th-ranked producer of gypsum, accounting for 2.3% (estimated); the 19th-producer of sand and gravel (industrial), accounting for 0.48% (estimated); and the 21st-producer of salt, accounting for 0.87% (estimated).
In 2024, the crude petroleum and natural gas sector’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product was 19%; construction sector, 7.7%; manufacturing sector, 7.3%; petroleum refining; 5.2%; petrochemical industry, 3.6%; and mining and quarrying sector, 0.4%. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Saudi Arabia is provided by the Mining Investment Law, which was approved in June 2020, became effective in January 2021, and replaced the 2004 Mining Investment Law. The Deputy Ministry of Mineral Resources, which was within the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, oversaw the country’s mining activities, promoted investments, provided services, and issued mining licenses and concessions in the country. The Government played a significant role in supporting the private mineral sector through its Public Investment Fund and the Saudi Industrial Development Fund.
