The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for July 2020. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In July 2020, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR13,6 billion, showing a decrease of 38.8% compared to July 2019, and increase of 6.9% compared to June 2020.
On other hand, the imports of goods in July 2020 amounted to around QR7,4 billion, showing a decrease of 19.5% over July 2019. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increase by 7.1% compared to June 2020.
In July 2020, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR6,3 billion almost, i.e. a decrease of about QR 6,9 billion or 52.3% compared to July 2019, And increased by nearly QR0.4 billion or 6.6% compared to June 2020.
The year on year (July 2020 to July 2019) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR7,8 billion approximately in July 2020, i.e. a decrease of 41.9%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR2,3 billion nearly, decreased by 39.7%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR1,2 billion, decreased by 41.0%.
In July 2020, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 2,8 billion, a share of 20.6% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 2,0 billion and a share of 15.0%, India with about QR 1,7 billion, a share of 12.2%.
During July 2020, the group of "Turbojets, Turbopropellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR0.6 billion, showing an decrease of 29.9% compared to July 2019. In second place was "Electrical Apparatus for Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof " with QR 0.2 billion, showing an decrease of 34.9% and in third place was “Parts of Aero planes or Helicopters” with QR 0.2 billion, decrease of 35.6%.
In July 2020, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR1,0 billion, a share of 13.9% of the imports, followed by China with QR1.0 billion almost, a share of 13.5%, and United Kingdom with QR0.6 billion, a share of 8.7%.
