The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for February 2018. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In February 2018, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 22.4 billion, showing an increase of 14.0% compared to February 2017, and decrease by 11.6% compared to January 2018.
On other hand, the imports of goods in February 2018 amounted to around QR 8.3 billion, showing an increase of 0.6% over February 2017. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decreased by 13.2%..
In February 2018, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 14.1 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 2.7 billion or 23.7% compared to February 2017, And decreased by nearly QR 1.7 billion or 10.7% compared to January 2018.
The year on year (February 2018 to February 2017) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 13.7 billion approximately in February 2018, i.e. an increase of 12.8%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.9 billion nearly, increased by 12.6%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.9 billion, increased by 49.4%.
In February 2018, South Korea was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 4.8 billion, a share of 21.3% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 4.1 billion and a share of 18.5%, India with about QR 3.0 billion, a share of 13.5%.
During February 2018, the group of " Motor cars & other passenger vehicles " was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.5 billion, showing a decrease of 1.9% compared to February 2017. In second place was “Parts Of Balloons Etc.; Parts Of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc.” with QR 0.3 billion, showing an increase by 9.3%, and in third place was “Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof”,, with QR 0.3 billion, increase of 4.1%.
In February 2018, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.0 billion, a share of 12.0% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.0 billion almost, a share of 11.8%, and India with QR 0.6 billion, a share of 7.4%.
