The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for October 2017. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In October 2017, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 21.0 billion, showing an increase of 11.9% compared to October 2016, and increase by 1.9% compared to September 2017. )
On other hand, the imports of goods in October 2017 amounted to around QR 12.3 billion, showing increase of 11.2% over October 2016. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increased by 52.9%.
In October 2017, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 8.7 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 1.0 billion or 12.9% compared to October 2016, And decreased by nearly QR 3.9 billion or 30.9% compared to September 2017.
The year on year (October 2017 to October 2016) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 12.0 billion approximately in October 2017, i.e. an increase of 8.5%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 4.1 billion nearly, increased by 38.9%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.4 billion, increased by 59.9% .
In October 2017, India was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 3.5 billion, a share of 16.7% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 3.2 billion and a share of 15.4%, South Korea with about QR 3.1 billion, a share of 14.9%.
During October 2017, 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 27.0% compared to October 2016. In second place was " Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof ", with QR 0.4 billion, showing a increase by 6.0%, and in third place was “Electrical Apparatus For Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof”, with QR 0.3 billion, decrease of 41.6%.
In October 2017, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 3.2 billion, a share of 25.9% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.3 billion almost, a share of 10.2%, and Germany with QR 0.9 billion, a share of 7.0%.
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