The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports and imports for November 2020. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In November 2020, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR16.6 billion, showing a decrease of 25.1% compared to November 2019, and increased of 8.3% compared to October.
On other hand, the imports of goods in November 2020 amounted to around QR7.5 billion, showing a decrease of 22.1% over November 2019. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decrease by 8.9% compared to October.
In November 2020, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 9.1 billion almost, i.e. a decrease of about QR 3.4 billion or 27.4% compared to November 2019, And increased by nearly QR 2.0 billion or 28.6% compared to October 2020.
The year on year (November 2020 to November 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 9.5 billion approximately in November 2020, i.e. a decrease of 32.2%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 2.5 billion nearly, decreased by 41.0%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 1.4 billion, increased by 29.6%.
In November 2020, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 3.0 billion, a share of 18.0% of total exports, followed by China with almost QR 2.7 billion and a share of 16.5%, South Korea with about QR 2.3 billion, a share of 13.9%.
The year on year (November 2020 to November 2019), the group of " Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof " was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.4 billion, showing an decrease of 62.2%.
In second place was "“Motor cars & other motor vehicles for the transport of persons " with QR 0.3 billion, showing a decrease of 27.8% and in third place was “Parts of Aero planes or Helicopters” with QR 0.2 billion, decrease of 47.7%.
In November 2020, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1.2 billion, a share of 15.3% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.0 billion almost, a share of 13.8%, and India with QR 0.5 billion, a share of 6.5%.
