The Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) is pleased to publish the Press Release on "Quarterly Foreign Merchandise Trade Statistics, Q3 2023 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 Q3 2023, Qatar recorded a merchandise trade balance surplus (difference between total exports and imports) of QR60.9 billion down from QR 102.1 billion in Q3 2022.
Total Exports: In Q3 2023, the value of Qatar’s total exports (including exports of domestic goods and re-exports) amounted to QR 89.8 billion, decreased by QR 43.8 billion (32.8%) compared to Q3 2022 which amounted total exports of QR 133.6 billion. And increased by nearly QR 4.4 billion or 5.2% compared to Q2 2023.
The Q3 2023 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 41.2 billion (34.6%), Chemicals and Related Products n.e.s. by QR 2.7 billion (30.8%), Crude Materials, Inedible, Except Fuels. by 0.3 billion (53.7%). On other hand increases was recorded mainly in Machinery and Transport Equipment by 0.4 billion (19.6%), and Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles by 0.1 billion (12.0%).
Imports: The value of Qatar’s imports in Q3 2023 was QR 28.9 billion; decreased by QR 2.5 billion (8.1%) compared to Q3 2022 imports of QR 31.5 billion. And increased by nearly QR 1.2 billion or 4.4% compared to Q2 2023.
The Q3 2023 (Y-o-Y) decrease in imports values is mainly due to decreases in Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles by 1.0 billion (16.0%), Chemicals and Related Products n.e.s. QR 0.64 billion (20.3%), Food and Live Animals by QR 0.56 billion (15.5%), Crude Materials, Inedible, Except Fuels by QR 0.2 billion (16.3%). On other hand increases was recorded mainly in Machinery and Transport Equipment by QR 0.1 billion (1.0%) and Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material by 0.06 billion (1.5%).
Major Export/Import Partners: During Q3 2023, Asia was the principal destination of Qatar’s exports and the first origin of Qatar’s imports, representing 74.9% and 36.3% respectively, followed by the European Union, accounting for 10.4% and 27.5% respectively, and GCC, with 9.4% and 7.3% respectively.
