The Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) is pleased to publish the Press Release on "Quarterly Foreign Merchandise Trade Statistics, Q4 2020 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 2020, Qatar recorded a merchandise trade balance surplus (difference between total exports and imports) of QR 24.7 billion down from QR 38.4 billion in Q4 2019.
Total Exports: In Q4 2020, the value of Qatar’s total exports (including exports of domestic goods and re-exports) amounted to QR 49.1 billion, decreased by QR 16.7 billion (25.4%) compared to Q4 2019 which amounted total exports of QR 65.7 billion. And increased by nearly QR 8.0 billion or 19.4% compared to Q3 2020.
The Q4 2020 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 16.8 billion (29.7%), Crude Materials Inedible Except Fuels by QR 0.3 billion (90.5%) and Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly By Material by QR 0.8 billion (38.3%). On other hand increases was recorded mainly in Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles by QR 0.8 billion (174.1%), Chemicals and Related Products n.e.s. by QR 0.5 billion (10.2%) and Food and live animals by QR 3 million (16.7%).
Imports: The value of Qatar’s imports in Q4 2020 was QR 24.4 billion; decreased by QR 3.0 billion (10.9%) compared to Q4 2019 imports of QR 27.3 billion. And increased by nearly QR 2.9 billion or 13.4% compared to Q3 2020.
The Q4 2020 (Y-o-Y) decrease in imports values is mainly due to decreases in Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials by QR 0.1 billion (45.9%), Crude Materials, Inedible Except Fuels by QR 0.7 billion (53.0%), Miscellaneous manufactured articles by QR 1.3 billion (24.0%), Machinery and Transport Equipment by QR 0.8 billion (7.6%). On other hand increases was recorded mainly in Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material by QR 0.2 billion (4.3%) and Animal and Vegetable Oils, Fats and Waxes by 0.01 billion (19.0%).
Major Export/Import Partners: During Q4 2020, Asia was the principal destination of Qatar’s exports and the first origin of Qatar’s imports, representing 80.7% and 41.7% respectively, followed by the European Union, accounting for 7.6% and 29.9% respectively, and GCC, with 5.8% and 3.3% respectively.
