Kuwaiti investments in the industrial sector reach $49.3 billion

- The concrete sector leads with $13.17 billion, holding a 26.7% share

- India accounts for 9.78% of Kuwait’s exports, while China is the largest supplier with 19.6%

- $450 billion in Gulf industrial investments across 22,046 factories employing 1.76 million workers

Data from the Gulf Industrial Platform, affiliated with the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) and under the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), revealed the continued growth of the industrial sector in GCC member states, coinciding with the expansion of the Gulf industrial system, which comprises more than 22,000 factories with investments exceeding $450 billion.

The data showed notable developments in Kuwait’s factory base and industrial investments, with the number of factories reaching 932 during the first half of 2026, with total investments amounting to $49.32 billion, providing approximately 158,380 job opportunities.

According to the data, the ready-mixed concrete industry tops the list of Kuwait’s industrial sectors by investment volume, reaching $13.17 billion, representing about 26.7% of total industrial investments. Aluminum fabrication workshops came in second with investments of $9.32 billion (18.9%), followed by unidentified investments within the industrial classification at $8.25 billion. Next were the pipe, conduit, hollow section, and fitting manufacturing industries with $4.53 billion in investments, and salt-resistant cement manufacturing with $4.38 billion.

India ranked as Kuwait’s top trading partner in industrial exports with a 9.78% share, followed by the UAE at 7.2%, China at 7.07%, Turkey at 4.43%, Saudi Arabia at 4.29%, Iraq at 4.07%, South Korea at 3.9%, Switzerland at 3.25%, and Hong Kong at 3.1%.

Regarding imports, China topped the list of suppliers to Kuwait with a 19.66% share, followed by the United States at 6.94%, India at 6.71%, the UAE at 3.77%, Japan at 3.74%, Germany at 3.23%, Turkey at 3.12%, Italy at 3%, Switzerland at 2.77%, and France at 2.18%.

Large-capacity four-wheel-drive vehicles ranked first among the most imported products with a 4.47% share, followed by smartphones at 3.97%, pharmaceuticals at 3.25%, gold jewelry at 3.2%, gold alloys at 2.78%, and four-wheel-drive vehicles of various capacities, along with aircraft parts and immunological products, among the top imported items.

At the Gulf level, the data showed that the number of factories in GCC member states reached 22,046 during the first half of 2026, with total investments amounting to $450.33 billion, while the number of workers in the industrial sector reached approximately 1.76 million.

The manufacturing sector’s contribution to Gulf GDP reached 13.13% in 2025, while the mining, quarrying, and oil sector accounted for 22.14%, construction 8.39%, and trade, restaurants, and hotels 11.9%.

Saudi Arabia led the Gulf industrial sector in terms of the number of factories with 9,094, followed by the UAE with 7,328, Oman with 1,932, Qatar with 989, Kuwait with 932, and Bahrain with 930.

In terms of industrial investments, Saudi Arabia led with $245.2 billion, followed by Qatar with $62.7 billion, the United Arab Emirates with $42.4 billion, Bahrain with $26.2 billion, the Sultanate of Oman with $25.3 billion, and Kuwait with $49.32 billion.

Gulf industrial investments are concentrated in strategic sectors. The plastics and synthetic rubber industry ranked first, with investments totaling $66 billion, representing 14.66 percent of total investments.

Significant investments were also recorded in ready-mixed concrete production, valued at $17.98 billion, cement, lime, and plaster manufacturing at $17.81 billion, and fertilizer and nitrogenous compounds production at $11.62 billion.

China topped the list of suppliers to Gulf countries with a 19.66 percent share, followed by the United States at 6.94 percent and India at 6.71 percent. Meanwhile, India emerged as the leading export market after unspecified oil exports, which accounted for 9.78 percent.