The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for April 2018. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In April 2018, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 24.0 billion, showing an increase of 27.3% compared to April 2017, and increase by 0.5% compared to March 2018.
On other hand, the imports of goods in April 2018 amounted to around QR 9.2 billion, showing an increase of 3.1% over April 2017. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decreased by 12.5%.
In April 2018, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which pepresents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 14.7 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 4.9 billion or 49.3% compared to April 2017, and increased by nearly QR 1.4 billion or 10.7% compared to March 2018.
The year on year (April 2018 to April 2017) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 14.1 billion approximately in April 2018, i.e. an increase of 22.9%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.9 billion nearly, increased by 41.5%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 2.1 billion, increased by 83.7%.
In April 2018, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 4.7 billion, a share of 19.6% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 4.1 billion and a share of 17.1 %, China with about QR 2.6 billion, a share of 10.7%.
During April 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 4.9% compared to April 2017. In second place was “Parts Of Balloons Etc.; Parts Of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc.” with QR 0.3 billion, increase of 19.0% and in third place was “Electrical Apparatus For Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof” with QR 0.2 billion, showing an decrease by 35.5%.
In April 2018, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.0 billion, a share of 10.8% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.0 billion almost, a share of 10.5%, and India with QR 0.8 billion, a share of 8.7%.
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