The Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) is pleased to publish the Press Release on "Quarterly Foreign Merchandise Trade Statistics, Q4 2023 State of Qatar", comprising quarterly data on imports, exports, re-exports, and trade balance. The bulletin presents detailed statistics of the foreign merchandise trade of Qatar by commodity and partner country. Quarter-on-Quarter (Q-o-Q) percentage changes are also provided.
Foreign Merchandise Trade Balance: In Q4 2023, Qatar recorded a merchandise trade balance surplus (difference between total exports and imports) of QR 54.5 billion from QR 79.6 billion in Q4 2022.
Total Exports: In Q4 2023, the value of Qatar’s total exports (including exports of domestic goods and re-exports) amounted to QR 84.8 billion, decreased by QR 28.6 billion (25.5%) compared to Q4 2022 which amounted total exports of QR 113.5 billion. And decreased by nearly QR 4.9 billion or 5.5% compared to Q3 2023.
The Q4 2023 year on year (Y-o-Y) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials by QR 26.3 billion (26.5%), Chemicals and Related Products n.e.s. by QR 2.6 billion (30.7%), Crude Materials, Inedible, Except Fuels by QR 0.2 billion (40.5%), Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material by QR 0.1 billion (5.3%). On other hand increases was recorded mainly in Machinery and Transport Equipment by QR 0.4 billion (22.8%), Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles by QR 0.2 billion (49.6%).
Imports: The value of Qatar’s imports in Q4 2023 was QR 30.4 billion; decreased by QR 3.5 billion (10.4%) compared to Q4 2022 imports of QR 33.9 billion. And increased by nearly QR 1.4 billion or 5.0% compared to Q3 2023.
The Q4 2023 (Y-o-Y) decreases in imports values is mainly due to decreases in Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles by QR 4.0 billion (45.1%), Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material by QR 0.8 billion (16.7%), Chemicals and Related Products n.e.s. by QR 0.4 billion (13.1%), Food and Live Animals by QR 0.5 billion (14.5%). On other hand an increase was recorded mainly in Machinery and Transport Equipment by QR 1.0 billion (8.9%), Mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials by QR 1.0 billion (251.6%), Crude Materials, Inedible, Except Fuels by 0.2 billion (21.8%).
Major Export/Import Partners: During Q4 2023, Asia was the principal destination of Qatar’s exports and the first origin of Qatar’s imports, representing 74.4% and 37.2% respectively, followed by the European Union, accounting for 13.2% and 28.4% respectively, and GCC, with 8.2% and 10.0% respectively.
