The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for December 2017. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In December 2017, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 25.9 billion, showing an increase of 34.5% compared to December 2016, and increase by 19.0% compared to November 2017.
On other hand, the imports of goods in December 2017 amounted to around QR 11.0 billion, showing an increase of 28.8% over December 2016. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increased by 23.1%.
In December 2017, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 14.9 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 4.2 billion or 39.1% compared to December 2016, And increased by nearly QR 2.1 billion or 16.1% compared to November 2017.
The year on year (December 2017 to December 2016) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 14.3 billion approximately in December 2017, i.e. an increase of 21.2%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 6.5 billion nearly, increased by 90.7%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.7 billion, increased by 80.8%
In December 2017, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 5.0 billion, a share of 19.3% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 3.8 billion and a share of 14.7%, India with about QR 3.3 billion, a share of 12.7%.
During December 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 44.7% compared to December 2016. In second place was “Electrical Apparatus For Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof”, with QR 0.4 billion, showing an increase by 62.5%, and in third place was " Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof ", with QR 0.3 billion, decrease of 43.9%.
In December 2017, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 3.2 billion, a share of 28.7% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.5 billion almost, a share of 13.6%, and Germany with QR 0.7 billion, a share of 6.3%.
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