The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for March 2019. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In March 2019, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 22.3 billion, showing a decrease of 6.3% compared to March 2018, and increased by 0.4% compared to February 2019. )Table 1).
On other hand, the imports of goods in March 2019 amounted to around QR 9.6 billion, showing a decrease of 9.0% over March 2018. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increase by 13.0%. )Table 1).
In March 2019, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 12.8 billion almost, i.e. an decrease of about QR 0.5 billion or 4.1% compared to March 2018, And decreased by nearly QR 1.0 billion or 7.4% compared to February 2019. (Table1).
The year on year (March 2019 to March 2018) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 13.5 billion approximately in March 2019, i.e. a decrease of 8.9%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.8 billion nearly, increased by 0.7%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.4 billion, decreased by 11.6%.(Table1).
In March 2019, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 4.5 billion, a share of 20.3% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 3.2 billion and a share of 14.2 %, India with about QR 2.6 billion, a share of 11.8%. (Table 2, Graph 1).
During March 2019, the group of “Motor cars & other passenger vehicles” was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.4 billion, showing a decrease of 33.2% compared to March 2018. In second place was “Parts Of Balloons Etc.; Parts Of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc.” with QR 0.3 billion, showing an decreased by 9.5%, and in third place was " Turbojets, turbo propellers & other gas turbines; parts thereof " with QR 0.3 billion, decrease of 38.1%. (Table1).
In March 2019, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 2.2 billion, a share of 22.9% of the imports, followed by China with QR 0.9 billion almost, a share of 9.8%, and Turkey with QR 0.7 billion, a share of 7.5%. (Table 2, Graph 2).
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