The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for September 2019. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In September 2019, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 20.3 billion, showing a decrease of 24.1% compared to September 2018, and decreased by 4.1% compared to August 2019.
On other hand, the imports of goods in September 2019 amounted to around QR 7.5 billion, showing a decrease of 34.2% over September 2018. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decrease by 17.8%.
In September 2019, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 12.9 billion almost, i.e. a decrease of about QR 2.6 billion or 16.7% compared to September 2018, And increased by nearly QR 0.7 billion or 6.2% compared to August 2019.
The year on year (September 2019 to September 2018) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 12.3 billion approximately in September 2019, i.e. a decrease of 26.4%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.2 billion nearly, decreased by 22.3%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.9 billion, decreased by 28.1%.
In September 2019, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 3.5 billion, a share of 17.4% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 2.9 billion and a share of 14.5 %, India with about QR 2.6 billion, a share of 12.8%.
During September 2019, the group of “Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof.” was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.6 billion, showing an increase of 34.5% compared to September 2018. In second place was “Parts Of Balloons Etc.; Parts Of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc” with QR 0.3 billion, showing an increased by 0.7%, and in third place was "Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles For The Transport Of Persons " with QR 0.3 billion, decrease of 15.6%.
In September 2019, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.2 billion, a share of 15.7% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.0 billion almost, a share of 13.0%, and Germany with QR 0.5 billion, a share of 6.7%.
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