The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for December 2018. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In December 2018, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 25.4 billion, showing a decrease of 1.9% compared to December 2017, and decreased by 1.1% compared to November 2018.
On other hand, the imports of goods in December 2018 amounted to around QR 9.5 billion, showing a decrease of 13.3% over December 2017. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increased by 0.3%.
In December 2018, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 15.9 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 1.0 billion or 6.6% compared to December 2017, And decreased by nearly QR 0.3 billion or 1.9% compared to November 2018.
The year on year (December 2018 to December 2017) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 16.6 billion approximately in December 2018, i.e. an increase of 15.9%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.4 billion nearly, decreased by 47.6%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.7 billion, decreased by 2.4%
In December 2018, South Korea was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 5.0 billion, a share of 19.6% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 4.4 billion and a share of 17.2 %, China with about QR 3.7 billion, a share of 14.4%.
During December 2018, the group of “Turbojets, turbo propellers & other gas turbines; parts thereof” was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.4 billion, showing an increase of 43.0% compared to December 2017. In second place was “Motor cars & other passenger vehicles” with QR 0.4 billion, showing a decrease by 2.6%, and in third place was " Parts of Balloons Etc.; Parts Of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc. " with QR 0.4 billion, increase of 21.8%.
In December 2018, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.7 billion, a share of 17.7% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.1 billion almost, a share of 11.8%, and United Kingdom with QR 0.8 billion, a share of 8.5%.
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