The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for July 2017. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In July 2017, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 18.1 billion, showing an increase of 11.4% compared to July 2016, and decrease by 1.2% compared to June 2017.
On other hand, the imports of goods in July 2017 amounted to around QR 6.2 billion, showing decrease of 35.0% over July 2016. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increase by 6.3%.
In July 2017, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 11.9 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 5.2 billion or 78.1% compared to July 2016, And decreased by nearly QR 0.6 billion or 4.8% compared to June 2017.
The year on year (July 2017 to July 2016) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 11.2 billion approximately in July 2017, i.e. an increase of 7.8%, while decrease was shown in Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 2.5 billion nearly, decreased by 0.4%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.5 billion, increased by 97.7%.
In July 2017, South Korea was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 3.1 billion, a share of 17.3% of total exports, followed by China with almost QR 2.7 billion and a share of 14.6%, Japan with about QR 2.3 billion, a share of 12.9%.
During July 2017, the group of "Motor cars & other passenger vehicles", was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.4 billion, showing a decrease of 16.6% compared to July 2016. In second place was “Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof” with QR 0.3 billion, showing a decrease by 19.8%, and in third place was " Parts of Aircraft and helicopters etc.”, with QR 0.3 billion, decrease of 40.5%.
In July 2017, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.0 billion, a share of 16.1% of the imports, followed by China with QR 0.7 billion almost, a share of 11.1%, and Japan with QR 0.4 billion, a share of 6.7%.
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