The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports and imports for December 2014. A short analysis of the data is given below:
In December 2014, the total exports of goods (including exports of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to QR 33.8 billion, showing a decrease of 21.7% compared to December 2013. However, compared to November 2014 the total exports of goods decreased by 3.4%. Table(1)
On the other hand, the imports of goods in December 2014 amounted to QR 11.1 billion, showing an increase of 18.3% over December 2013. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increased by 10.0%. Table(1)
In December 2014, the trade balance of goods, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 22.7 billion, i.e. a decrease of QR 11.1 billion or 32.8% compared to December 2013. However, compared to November 2014 the trade balance of goods decreased by QR 2.2 billion or 8.8%. (Table 1)
The year on year (December 2014 to December 2013) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 22.8 billion in December 2014, i.e. a decrease of 17.7% compared to December 2013, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 4.5 billion (41.8%), and Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 0.8 billion (66.6%). (Table 1)
In December 2014, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with QR 8.7 billion, a share of 25.6% of total exports, followed by South Korea with QR 6.9 billion (20.3%) and India with QR 4.4 billion (12.9%). (Table 2, Graph 1)
During December 2014, Motor cars & other passenger vehicles was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 1.1 billion, showing an increase of 24.0% compared to December 2013. In second and third place were the imports of Parts Of balloons Etc.; Parts Of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc. with QR 0.7 billion, increased by 49.4%, and Light-Vessels, Fire-Floats, Dredgers Etc.; Floating Docks & Platforms with QR 0.4 billion, decreased by 47.6% . (Table 1)
In December 2014, United States of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with QR 1.3 billion, a share of 11.3% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.2 billion (10.7%) and Germany with QR 0.8 billion (7.5%). (Table 2, Graph 2)
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