The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for November 2019. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In November 2019, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 22.2 billion, showing a decrease of 13.0% compared to November 2018, and increase of 10.6% compared to October 2019. )Table 1).
On other hand, the imports of goods in November 2019 amounted to around QR 9.7 billion, showing an increase of 1.7% over November 2018. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increase by 15.8%. )Table 1).
In November 2019, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 12.5 billion almost, i.e. a decrease of about QR 3.5 billion or 21.8% compared to November 2018, And increased by nearly QR 0.8 billion or 6.8% compared to October 2019. (Table1).
The year on year (November 2019 to November 2018) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 14.1 billion approximately in November 2019, i.e. a decrease of 8.8%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 4.3 billion nearly, decreased by 2.7%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.1 billion, decreased by 47.0%.(Table1).
In November 2019, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 4.7 billion, a share of 21.3% of total exports, followed by China with almost QR 3.3 billion and a share of 15.0 %, South Korea with about QR 3.2 billion, a share of 14.6%. (Table 2, Graph 1).
During November 2019, the group of “Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles For The Transport of Persons” was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.4 billion, showing an increase of 9.3% compared to November 2018. In second place was “Parts of Balloons Etc.; Parts Of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc” with QR 0.4 billion, showing an increase of 28.4% and in third place was " Electrical apparatus for line telephony/telegraphy, telephone sets etc.; parts thereof " with QR 0.3 billion, increase of 40.4%. (Table1).
In November 2019, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 2.1 billion, a share of 21.7% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.2 billion almost, a share of 12.0%, and United Kingdom with QR 1.0 billion, a share of 9.9%. (Table 2, Graph 2).
