The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for March 2020. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In March 2020, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re- exports) amounted to around QR 15.9 billion, showing a decrease of 30.1% compared to March 2019, and decrease of 25.0% compared to February 2020.
On other hand, the imports of goods in March 2020 amounted to around QR 8.3 billion, showing a decrease of 13.2% over March 2019. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increase by 7.7%.
In March 2020, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 7.6 billion almost, i.e. a decrease of about QR 5.6 billion or 42.4% compared to March 2019, And decreased by nearly QR 5.9 billion or 43.7% compared to February 2020.
The year on year (March 2020 to March 2019) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 10.5 billion approximately in March 2020, i.e. a decrease of 22.3%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 1.8 billion nearly, decreased by 52.1%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 0.7 billion, decreased by 48.5%.
In March 2020, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 2.5 billion, a share of 15.5% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 2.4 billion and a share of 14.9%, India with about QR 2.2 billion, a share of 13.9%.
During March 2020, the group of " Turbo Jets of A Thrust Exceeding 25 KN" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.5 billion, showing an increase of 179.6% compared to March 2019. In second place was " Parts of Aero planes or Helicopters" with QR 0.4 billion, showing an increase of 57.1% and in third place was “Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for The Transport of Persons” with QR 0.3 billion, decrease of 9.3%.
In March 2020, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.4 billion, a share of 17.2% of the imports, followed by China with QR 0.8 billion almost, a share of 9.5%, and Germany with QR 0.7 billion, a share of 8.1%.
