The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for January 2018. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In January 2018, 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 28.8% compared to January 2017, and increase by 0.1% compared to December 2017.
On other hand, the imports of goods in January 2018 amounted to around QR 9.6 billion, showing an increase of 2.0% over January 2017. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decreased by 13.0%.
In January 2018, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 16.4 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 5.6 billion or 52.2% compared to January 2017, And increased by nearly QR 1.5 billion or 9.8% compared to December 2017.
The year on year (January 2018 to January 2017) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 16.9 billion approximately in January 2018, i.e. an increase of 28.3%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 4.2 billion nearly, increased by 76.7%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.7 billion, increased by 17.3%.
In January 2018, South Korea was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 4.9 billion, a share of 19.4% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 4.5 billion and a share of 17.8%, China with about QR 3.3 billion, a share of 13.0%.
During January 2018, the group of " Motor cars & other passenger vehicles " was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.6 billion, showing a decrease of 13.0% compared to January 2017. In second place was “Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof”, with QR 0.5 billion, showing an increase by 61.6%, and in third place was " Electrical Apparatus For Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof ", with QR 0.3 billion, decrease of 0.6%.
In January 2018, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.4 billion, a share of 14.4% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.4 billion almost, a share of 14.3%, and India with QR 0.6 billion, a share of 6.2%.
For more information click here
