The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports and imports for March 2021. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In March 2021, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 22.1 billion, showing an increase of 38.2% compared to March 2020, and increase of 7.0% compared to February 2021.
On other hand, the imports of goods in March 2021 amounted to around QR 8.9 billion, showing an increase of 6.7% compared to March 2020. and increase of 20.1% compared to February 2021.
In March 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 increase of about QR 5.5 billion or 72.7% compared to March 2020, and decreased by nearly QR 0.04 billion or 0.3% compared to February 2021.
The year on year (March 2021 to March 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 13.4 billion approximately in March 2021, i.e. an increase of 26.6%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.2 billion nearly, increased by 74.5%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 1.8 billion, increased by 145.5%.
In March 2021, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 3.4 billion, a share of 15.5% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 3.1 billion and a share of 14.2%, India with about QR 2.9 billion, a share of 13.0%.
The year on year (March 2021 to March 2020), the group of "Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.4 billion, showing a decrease of 44.6%. In second place was "Articles of Jewelry & Parts Thereof, of Precious Metal or of Metal Clad" with QR 0.4 billion, showing an increase of 69.3% and in third place was "Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for The Transport of Persons" with QR 0.3 billion, decrease of 16.5%.
In March 2021, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.2 billion, a share of 13.3% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 0.9 billion almost, a share of 10.4%, and Germany with QR 0.7 billion, a share of 8.0%.
