The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for September 2017. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In September 2017, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 20.6 billion, showing an increase of 20.0% compared to September 2016, and decrease by 3.8% compared to August 2017.
On other hand, the imports of goods in September 2017 amounted to around QR 8.1 billion, showing decrease of 2.8% over September 2016. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decrease by 6.9%.
In September 2017, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 12.5 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 3.7 billion or 41.5% compared to September 2016, And decreased by nearly QR 0.2 billion or 1.7% compared to August 2017.
The year on year (September 2017 to September 2016) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 4.4 billion nearly, increased by 81.5%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.7 billion, increased by 118.7%.While decreases were shown in the group of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 11.4 billion approximately in September 2017, i.e. an decrease of 0.1% .
In September 2017, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 3.4 billion, a share of 16.7% of total exports, followed by Singapore with almost QR 3.0 billion and a share of 14.5%, South Korea with about QR 2.9 billion, a share of 14.0%.
During September 2017, 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 39.9% compared to September 2016. In second place was “Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof”, with QR 0.3 billion, showing a decrease by 20.9%, and in third place was “Parts of Aircraft and helicopters etc.”, with QR 0.2 billion, decrease of 3.4%.
In September 2017, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.0 billion, a share of 12.5% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 0.9 billion almost, a share of 10.8%, and Germany with QR 0.7 billion, a share of 8.6%.
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