The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for November 2023. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In November 2023, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 26.5 billion, showing a decrease of 28.6% compared to November 2022, and decrease of 8.8% compared to October 2023. (Table1)
On other hand, the imports of goods in November 2023 amounted to around QR 9.8 billion, showing a decrease of 10.1% compared to November 2022. and decrease of 2.6% compared to October 2023. (Table1)
In November 2023, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 16.7 billion almost, i.e., a decrease of about QR 9.5 billion or 36.3% compared to November 2022, and decrease by nearly QR 2.3 billion or 12.1% compared to October 2023. (Table1)
The year on year (November 2023 vs. November 2022) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 16.6 billion (approximately) in November 2023, i.e. decrease of 32.6%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.7 billion nearly, decrease by 28.9%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 2.4 billion 12.7%. (Table1)
In November 2023, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 5.4 billion, a share of 20.4% of total exports, followed by India with almost QR 3.7 billion and a share of 13.8%, and Japan with about QR 2.8 billion, a share of 10.6%. (Table2, Graph1)
The year on year (November 2023 vs. November 2022), the group of "Turbojets, Turbopropellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 1.0 billion, showing an increase of 47.9%. In second place was “Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for the Transport of Persons” with QR 0.39 billion, decrease by 3.4%, and in third place “Electrical Apparatus for Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof” with QR 0.36 billion, showing a decrease of 4.7%. (Table1).
In November 2023, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.51 billion, a share of 15.4% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.47 billion almost, a share of 15.0%, and Italy with QR 0.7 billion, a share of 7.6%. (Table2, Graph2)
