The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for February 2019. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In February 2019, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 22.3 billion, showing a decrease of 0.5% compared to February 2018, and decreased by 9.7% compared to January 2019.
On other hand, the imports of goods in February 2019 amounted to around QR 8.5 billion, showing an increase of 1.9% over February 2018. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decrease by 3.8%.
In February 2019, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 13.8 billion almost, i.e. an decrease of about QR 0.3 billion or 1.9% compared to February 2018, And decreased by nearly QR 2.1 billion or 13.1% compared to January 2019.
The year on year (February 2019 to February 2018) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 14.5 billion approximately in February 2019, i.e. an increase of 6.0%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.4 billion nearly, decreased by 14.3%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.6 billion, decreased by 15.1%
In February 2019, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 4.5 billion, a share of 20.4% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 4.4 billion and a share of 19.7 %, China with about QR 3.1 billion, a share of 13.7%.
During February 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 an increase of 71.4% compared to February 2018. In second place was “Motor cars & other passenger vehicles” with QR 0.3 billion, showing an decreased by 35.9%, and in third place was " Turbojets, turbo propellers & other gas turbines; parts thereof " with QR 0.2 billion, decrease of 3.6%.
In February 2019, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.3 billion, a share of 14.9% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.02 billion almost, a share of 12.0%, and Germany with QR 1.01 billion, a share of 11.9%.
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