The Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) is pleased to publish the Press Release on "Quarterly Foreign Merchandise Trade Statistics, Q1 2019 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 Q1 2019, Qatar recorded a merchandise trade balance surplus (difference between total exports and imports) of QR 43.2 billion, up from QR 43.1 billion in Q1 2018. (Table 1)
Total Exports: In Q1 2019, the value of Qatar’s total exports (including exports of domestic goods and re-exports) amounted to QR 70.1 billion, decreased by QR 1.4 billion (2.0%) compared to Q1 2018 total exports of QR 71.5 billion.
The Q1 2019 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 2.1 billion, Chemicals and related products nes by QR 0.4,and Crude materials, and inedible, except fuels, by QR 0.2. On the other hand increases was recorded mainly in Miscellaneous manufactured articles by QR 0.7 billion, Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material by QR 0.4 billion, and Machinery and Transport Equipment (mainly re-exports) by QR 0.1 billion. (Tables 1, 2)
Imports: The value of Qatar’s imports in Q1 2019 was QR 26.9 billion; decreased by QR 1.6 billion (5.5%) compared to Q1 2018 imports of QR 28.5 billion.
The Q1 2019 (Y-o-Y) decrease in imports reflected decreases in Machinery and transport equipment by QR 2.3 billion, Chemicals and related products nes by QR 0.3 billion, Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material by QR 0.1 billion, Beverages and Tobacco by QR 0.1 billion, and Crude materials, and inedible, except fuels, by QR 0.1. On the other hand increases was recorded mainly in Miscellaneous manufactured articles by QR 0.8 billion, and of Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials by QR 0.5 billion. (Tables 1, 2)

Major Export/Import Partners: During Q1 2019, Asia was the principal destination of Qatar’s exports and the first origin of Qatar’s imports, representing 82.1% and 34.8% respectively, followed by the European Union, accounting for 10.6% and 29.7% respectively, and GCC, with 2.9% and 6.0% respectively. (Table 3)

For more information click here