The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports and imports for December 2021. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In December 2021, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 35.6 billion, showing an increase of 107.8% compared to December 2020, and an increase of 3.8% compared to November 2021.
On other hand, the imports of goods in December 2021 amounted to around QR 9.9 billion, showing an increase of 16.2% compared to December 2020. and increase of 1.7% compared to November 2021.
In December 2021, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 25.7 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 17.1 billion or 198.9% compared to December 2020, and increase by nearly QR 1.2 billion or 4.7% compared to November 2021.
The year on year (December 2021 vs. December 2020) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 23.2 billion (approximately) in December 2021, i.e. an increase of 147.1%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 4.4 billion nearly, increase by 47.9%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 2.7 billion, 77.9%.
In December 2021, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 7.1 billion, a share of 20.1% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 5.1 billion and a share of 14.4%, India with about QR 5.0 billion, a share of 13.9%.
The year on year (December 2021 vs. December 2020), the group of "Electrical Apparatus for Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof " was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.5 billion, showing an Increase of 15.6%. In second place was "Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for The Transport of Persons" with QR 0.4 billion, showing an Increase of 84.9% and in third place was "Part of balloons etc,: parts of aircraft, spacecraft etc." with QR 0.3 billion, increase of 23.4%.
In December 2021, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.8 billion, a share of 17.7% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.3 billion almost, a share of 13.6 %, and United Kingdom with QR 0.6 billion, a share of 6.1%.
