The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for December 2022. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In December 2022, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 38.3 billion, showing an increase of 7.6% compared to December 2021, and increase of 3.1% compared to November 2022.
On other hand, the imports of goods in December 2022 amounted to around QR 10.1 billion, showing an increase of 1.4% compared to December 2021. and decrease of 7.7% compared to November 2022.
In December 2022, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 28.2 billion almost, i.e., an increase of about QR 2.6 billion or 10.0% compared to December 2021, and increase by nearly QR 2.0 billion or 7.6% compared to November 2022.
The year on year (December 2022 vs. December 2021) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 26.2 billion (approximately) in December 2022, i.e. an increase of 12.9%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 5.0 billion nearly, increase by 12.8%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 2.4 Billion 12.3%.
In December 2022, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 8.4 billion, a share of 21.9% of total exports, followed by India with almost QR 4.2 billion and a share of 11.0%, South Korea with about QR 3.9 billion, a share of 10.2%.
The year on year (December 2022 vs. December 2021), the group of "Turbojets, Turbopropellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.9 billion, showing an increase of 3.5%. In second place was “Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for The Transport of Persons” with QR 0.5 billion, showing an increase of 8.4% and in third place was "Parts of Balloons Etc.; Parts of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc.” with QR 0.3 billion, decrease of 2.0%.
In December 2022, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 2.0 billion, a share of 19.7% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.4 billion almost, a share of 14.3%, and Italy with QR 0.9 billion, a share of 9.0%.
