The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for January 2023. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In January 2023, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 34.0 billion, showing a decrease of 4.4% compared to January 2022, and decrease of 11.3% compared to December 2022.
On other hand, the imports of goods in January 2023 amounted to around QR 9.7 billion, showing an increase of 0.5% compared to January 2022. and decrease of 3.7% compared to December 2022.
In January 2023, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 24.3 billion almost, i.e., a decrease of about QR 1.6 billion or 6.2% compared to January 2022, and decrease by nearly QR 3.9 billion or 14.0% compared to December 2022.
The year on year (January 2023 vs. January 2022) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 22.1 billion (approximately) in January 2023, i.e. an increase of 0.3%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 5.0 billion nearly, decrease by 10.4%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 3.2 Billion 9.6%.
In January 2023, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 6.3 billion, a share of 18.4% of total exports, followed by India with almost QR 4.3 billion and a share of 12.6%, South Korea with about QR 3.6 billion, a share of 10.6%.
The year on year (January 2023 vs. January 2022), the group of "Turbojets, Turbopropellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 1.0 billion, showing an increase of 72.0%. In second place was “Electrical Apparatus for Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof” with QR 0.5 billion, showing an increase of 29.5% and in third place was "Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for The Transport of Persons” with QR 0.4 billion, increase of 16.8%.
In January 2023, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.5 billion, a share of 15.8% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.1 billion almost, a share of 10.8%, and Italy with QR 1.0 billion, a share of 10.1%.
