The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics have released preliminary figures of the value of exports, re-exports and imports for April 2014.  A short analysis of the data is given below:  • In March 2014, total exports of goods (including exports of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to QR 45.4 billion, showing an increase of 1.8% compared to the total export value of the corresponding month of 2013.  • In April 2014, total exports of goods (including exports of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to QR 40.1 billion, showing a decrease of (7%) compared to the total export value of the corresponding month of 2013. • On the other hand, the imports of goods in April 2014 amounted to QR 8.8 billion, an increase of (10%) over the value recorded in the same month last year. • In April 2014, the trade balance of goods, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 31.2 billion, a decrease of QR 3.5 billion (10%) compared to the trade balance of goods of April 2013. • The year on year (April 2014 to April 2013) decrease on the exports value was due to the lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 26.0 billion in April 2014, i.e. a decrease of 8% compared to April 2013 (mainly due to maintenance work in the LNG facilities), and Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) to reach QR 6.3 billion (15%); on the other hand, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) showed an increase of QR 2.5 billion (32%). • In April 2014, the major countries of destination for Qatar’s exports were Japan with QR 10.8 billion, a share of 27% of total exports, South Korea with QR 6.2 billion (15%), and India with QR 5.4 billion (13%). • The year on year increase in imports reflected increases in Motor cars & other passenger vehicles reaching QR 0.9 billion, increased by 3%, Aircraft spare parts to reach QR 0.7 billion (77%), and Telephone sets, mobiles and parts thereof to reach QR 0.2 billion (44%).  In April 2014, United States of America was the leading country of origin with QR 1.0 billion, a share of 12% of the imports, followed by China with QR 0.9 billion (10%), and Japan with QR 0.7 billion (8%). For more information, please visit:  Foreign Trade System For more details