The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports, re-exports and imports for January 2014.  A short analysis of the data is given below:  • In January 2014, general exports of goods (including exports of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to QR 45.8 billion, showing an increase of 2.8% compared to the general export value of the corresponding month of 2013.• On the other hand, the imports of January 2014 amounted to 8.8 billion, an increase of 27.5% over the value recorded in the same month last year. • In January 2014, the trade balance of goods, which represents the difference between general exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 37 billion, a decrease of QR 0.6 billion (1.7%) compared to the trade balance of goods of January 2013. • The period between January 2013 to January 2014 witnessed a rise in general exports, which was due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 31 billion in January 2014, i.e. 2.6% compared to January 2013; however, the increase has been partially offset by the drop in exports of Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) to reach QR 7.2 billion (11%), and Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) to reach QR 1.5 billion (45.9%). These decreases were due to the increase in local sales to the transport and industrial sectors. In January 2014, the major countries of destination for Qatar’s exports were Japan with QR 13 billion, a share of 28% of general exports, South Korea with QR 9.0 billion (20%), and India with QR 6.3 billion (14%). • The year on year increase in imports reflected increases in Motor cars & other passenger vehicles, to reach QR 0.8 billion in January 2014, i.e. 26.2 % compared to January 2013, Aircraft spare parts to reach QR 0.7 billion (121.0%), and Telephone sets to reach QR 0.2 billion (64.3%). In January 2014, the United States of America was the leading country of origin with QR 1.3 billion, a share of 15% of the imports, followed by China with QR 0.9 billion (10%), United Arab Emirates and Germany with QR 0.7 billion each (8% each). For more information, please visit:  Foreign Trade System For more details