The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports and imports for January 2021. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In January 2021, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 21.3 billion, showing a decrease of 4.7% compared to January 2020, and increased of 24.3% compared to December 2020.
On other hand, the imports of goods in January 2021 amounted to around QR 7.8 billion, showing a decrease of 21.5% over January 2020. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decrease by 9.2% compared to December 2020.
In January 2021, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 13.5 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 1.1 billion or 8.7% compared to January 2020, and increased by nearly QR 4.9 billion or 57.6% compared to December 2020.
The year on year (January 2021 to January 2020) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 13.1 billion approximately in January 2021, i.e. a decrease of 13.3%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.1 billion nearly, decreased by 3.0%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 1.7 billion, increased by 45.5%.
In January 2021, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 4.6 billion, a share of 21.5% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 3.6 billion and a share of 16.9%, South Korea with about QR 3.2 billion, a share of 14.9%.
The year on year (January 2021 to January 2020), the group of "Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.5 billion, showing a decrease of 27.5%. In second place was “Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for The Transport of Persons' with QR 0.4 billion, showing a decrease of 7.2% and in third place was “Electrical Apparatus for Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof” with QR 0.3 billion, increase of 33.5%.
In January 2021, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.1 billion, a share of 14.3% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.0 billion almost, a share of 13.0%, and United Kingdom with QR 0.6 billion, a share of 8.0%.
