The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for October 2018. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In October 2018, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 28.8 billion, showing an increase of 37.1% compared to October 2017, and increased by 7.3% compared to September 2018.
On other hand, the imports of goods in October 2018 amounted to around QR 9.8 billion, showing a decrease of 22.9% over October 2017. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decreased by 13.8%.
In October 2018, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 19.0 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 10.7 billion or 129.1% compared to October 2017, And increased by nearly QR 3.5 billion or 22.9% compared to September 2018.
The year on year (October 2018 to October 2017) an increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching approximately 17.8 billion in October 2018, i.e. an increase of 48.0%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching nearly QR 4.6 billion, increased by 10.5%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 2.4 billion, increased by 71.0%.
In October 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 17.0% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 4.7 billion and a share of 16.2 %, India with about QR 3.7 billion, a share of 13.0%.
During October 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 15.1% compared to October 2017. In second place was" Turbojets, turbo propellers & other gas turbines; parts thereof " with QR 0.5 billion, increase of 27.0% and in third place was Electrical apparatus for line telephony/telegraphy, telephone sets etc.; parts thereof” with QR 0.3 billion, showing an increase by 31.2%.
In October 2018, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.6 billion, a share of 16.4% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.2 billion almost, a share of 12.8%, and United Kingdom with QR 1.1 billion, a share of 11.2%.
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