The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports and imports for October 2020. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In October 2020, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR15.3 billion, showing a decrease of 23.5% compared to October 2019, and increased of 14.1% compared to September 2020.
On other hand, the imports of goods in October 2020 amounted to around QR8.3 billion, showing a decrease of 1.0% over October 2019. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increase by 18.3% compared to September 2020.
In October 2020, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 7.0 billion almost, i.e. a decrease of about QR 4.6 billion or 39.6% compared to October 2019, And increased by nearly QR 0.6 billion or 9.5% compared to September 2020.
The year on year (October 2020 to October 2019) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 9.7 billion approximately in October 2020, i.e. a decrease of 18.1%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 2.1 billion nearly, decreased by 39.6%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 0.5 billion, decreased by 62.4%.
In October 2020, India was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 2.6 billion, a share of 16.6% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 2.3 billion and a share of 14.8%, China with about QR 2.3 billion, a share of 14.8%.
The year on year (October 2020 to October 2019), the group of " Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof " was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.6 billion, showing an increase of 46.0%. In second place was " Parts of Aero planes or Helicopters " with QR 0.3 billion, showing a decrease of 20.4% and in third place was “Motor cars & other motor vehicles for the transport of persons” with QR 0.20 billion, decrease of 60.3%.
In October 2020, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.2 billion, a share of 14.7% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.0 billion almost, a share of 12.0%, and India with QR 0.5 billion, a share of 5.8%.
