The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for May 2020. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In May 2020, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 13.3 billion, showing a decrease of 41.4% compared to May 2019, and increase of 12.1% compared to April 2020.
On other hand, the imports of goods in May 2020 amounted to around QR 7.9 billion, showing a decrease of 13.7% over May 2019. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increase by 6.0% compared to April 2020.
In May 2020, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 5.3 billion almost, i.e. a decrease of about QR 8.1 billion or 60.4% compared to May 2019, And increased by nearly QR 1.0 billion or 22.5% compared to April 2020.
The year on year (May 2020 to May 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 8.2 billion approximately in May 2020, i.e. a decrease of 39.7%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 1.3 billion nearly, decreased by 67.5%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 0.5 billion, decreased by 68.8%.(Table1).
In May 2020, South Korea was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 2.1 billion, a share of 15.9% of total exports, followed by China with almost QR 1.9 billion and a share of 14.1%, Japan with about QR 1.6 billion, a share of 11.9%.
During May 2020, the group of " Turbo Jets of A Thrust Exceeding 25 KN" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 1.0 billion, showing an increase of 55.8% compared to May 2019. In second place was " Parts of Aero planes or Helicopters" with QR 0.3 billion, showing an decrease of 15.7% and in third place was “Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for The Transport of Persons” with QR 0.2 billion, decrease of 52.1%.
In May 2020, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 2.1 billion, a share of 26.5% of the imports, followed by United Kingdom with QR 1.3 billion almost, a share of 16.5%, and China with QR 1.1 billion, a share of 13.3%.
