The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for August 2019. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In August 2019, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 21.2 billion, showing a decrease of 19.7% compared to August 2018, and decreased by 5.1% compared to July 2019.
On other hand, the imports of goods in August 2019 amounted to around QR 9.1 billion, showing a increase of 2.3% over August 2018. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decrease by 0.4%.
In August 2019, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 12.1 billion almost, i.e. an decrease of about QR 5.4 billion or 30.8% compared to August 2018, And decreased by nearly QR 1.1 billion or 8.3% compared to July 2019.
The year on year (August 2019 to August 2018) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 13.1 billion approximately in August 2019, i.e. a decrease of 22.3%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.4 billion nearly, decreased by 20.7%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.5 billion, decreased by 7.0%
In August 2019, South Korea was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 3.9 billion, a share of 18.5% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 3.8 billion and a share of 17.8 %, China with about QR 2.7 billion, a share of 12.5%.
During August 2019, the group of “Parts Of Balloons Etc.; Parts Of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc.” was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.4 billion, showing a increase of 42.3% compared to August 2018. In second place was “Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles For The Transport Of Persons” with QR 0.3 billion, showing a increased by 22.3%, and in third place was "Electrical Apparatus For Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof " with QR 0.2 billion, increase of 18.0%.
In August 2019, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 2.5 billion, a share of 27.6% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.0 billion almost, a share of 11.2%, and United Kingdom with QR 0.9 billion, a share of 9.7%.
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