The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports and imports for August 2020. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In August 2020, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR14.0 billion, showing a decrease of 33.8% compared to August 2019, and increase of 3.3% compared to July 2020.
On other hand, the imports of goods in August 2020 amounted to around QR7.1 billion, showing a decrease of 21.6% over August 2019. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decrease by 3.0% compared to July 2020.
In August 2020, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 6.9 billion almost, i.e. a decrease of about QR 5.2 billion or 42.9% compared to August 2019, And increased by nearly QR 0.7 billion or 10.7% compared to July 2020.
The year on year (August 2020 to August 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 7.7 billion approximately in August 2020, i.e. a decrease of 41.6%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 2.4 billion nearly, decreased by 29.5%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR1.3 billion, decreased by 7.2%.
In August 2020, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 2.6 billion, a share of 18.2% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 2.2 billion and a share of 15.8%, India with about QR 1.9 billion, a share of 13.7%.
During August 2020, the group of "Parts of Aero planes or Helicopters" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.3 billion, showing an decrease of 33.8% compared to August 2019. In second place was "Electrical Apparatus for Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof " with QR 0.2 billion, showing an increase of 21.8% and in third place was “Motor cars & other motor vehicles for the transport of persons” with QR 0.2 billion, decrease of 42.6%.
In August 2020, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.6 billion, a share of 22.5% of the imports, followed by China with QR 0.9 billion almost, a share of 13.2%, and India with QR 0.4 billion, a share of 5.7%.
