The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports and imports for February 2021. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In February 2021, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 20.6 billion, showing a decrease of 2.8% compared to February 2020, and decreased of 3.2% compared to January 2021.
On other hand, the imports of goods in February 2021 amounted to around QR 7.4 billion, showing a decrease of 4.4% over February 2020. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decrease by 4.7% compared to January 2021.
In February 2021, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 13.2 billion almost, i.e. an decrease of about QR 0.3 billion or 1.9% compared to February 2020, and decreased by nearly QR 0.3 billion or 2.3% compared to January 2021.
The year on year (February 2021 to February 2020) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 13.4 billion approximately in February 2021, i.e. a decrease of 3.4%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 2.5 billion nearly, decreased by 21.3%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 1.3 billion, increased by 23.8%.
In February 2021, South Korea was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 3.7 billion, a share of 17.7% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 3.6 billion and a share of 17.5%, India with about QR 3.5 billion, a share of 17.0%.
The year on year (February 2021 to February 2020), the group of "Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for The Transport of Persons" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.3 billion, showing an increase of 23.2%. In second place was “Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof " with QR 0.3 billion, showing a decrease of 48.3% and in third place was “Parts of Aero planes or Helicopters” with QR 0.2 billion, decrease of 25.5%.
In February 2021, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.2 billion, a share of 16.5% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 0.8 billion almost, a share of 11.1%, and Belgium with QR 0.5 billion, a share of 6.4%.
