The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports and imports for August 2021. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In August 2021, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 27.3 billion, showing a increase of 94.3% compared to August 2020, and decrease of 0.6% compared to July 2021.
On other hand, the imports of goods in August 2021 amounted to around QR 8.1 billion, showing an increase of 13.6% compared to August 2020. and increase of 2.9% compared to July 2021.
In August 2021, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 19.2 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 12.3 billion or 177.4% compared to August 2020, and decrease by nearly QR 0.4 billion or 2.0% compared to July 2021.
The year on year (August 2021 to August 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 16.7 billion approximately in August 2021, i.e. an increase of 118.2%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 4.0 billion nearly, increase by 67.4%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 2.5 billion, increased by 87.0%.
In August 2021, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 4.6 billion, a share of 17.0% of total exports, followed by India with almost QR 3.7 billion and a share of 13.6%, Japan with about QR 3.5 billion, a share of 12.9%.
The year on year (August 2021 to August 2020), the group of " Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles For The Transport of Persons " was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.39 billion, showing an increase of 135.3%. In second place was " Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof " with QR 0.36 billion, showing an decrease of 18.8% and in third place was " Parts of Aeroplanes or Helicopters " with QR 0.2 billion, decrease of 6.0%.
In August 2021, China 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 United State of America with QR 0.9 billion almost, a share of 11.5%, and India with QR 0.6 billion, a share of 7.9%.
