The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for May 2019. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In May 2019, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 22.8 billion, showing a decrease of 8.4% compared to May 2018, and increased by 2.9% compared to April 2019.
On other hand, the imports of goods in May 2019 amounted to around QR 9.2 billion, showing a decrease of 7.6% over May 2018. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increase by 2.1%.
In May 2019, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 13.6 billion almost, i.e. an decrease of about QR 1.3 billion or 8.9% compared to May 2018, And increased by nearly QR 0.5 billion or 3.5% compared to April 2019.
The year on year (May 2019 to May 2018) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 13.6 billion approximately in May 2019, i.e. a decrease of 6.2%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 4.1 billion nearly, increased by 1.1%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.7 billion, decreased by 29.5%.
In May 2019, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar's exports with close to QR 4.0 billion, a share of 17.7% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 3.7 billion and a share of 16.1 %, India with about QR 2.2 billion, a share of 9.7%. .
During May 2019, the group of “Motor cars & other passenger vehicles" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.3 billion, showing a decrease of 27.6% compared to May 2018. In second place was “Parts Of Balloons Etc.; Parts Of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc." with QR 0.3 billion, showing a decreased by 10.5%, and in third place was "Electrical Apparatus For Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof " with QR 0.2 billion, decrease of 35.1%.
In May 2019, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar's imports with about QR 1.3 billion, a share of 14.2% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.0 billion almost, a share of 11.3%, and Unite Kingdom with QR 0.9 billion, a share of 9.7%. .
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