The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for March 2018. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In March 2018, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 23.9 billion, showing an increase of 22.0% compared to March 2017, and increase by 6.7% compared to February 2018.
On other hand, the imports of goods in March 2018 amounted to around QR 10.5 billion, showing an increase of 1.3% over March 2017. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increased by 26.4%. .
In March 2018, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 13.4 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 4.2 billion or 45.3% compared to March 2017, And decreased by nearly QR 0.7 billion or 5.0% compared to February 2018.
The year on year (March 2018 to March 2017) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 14.9 billion approximately in March 2018, i.e. an increase of 31.7%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.8 billion nearly, increased by 15.2%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.6 billion, decreased by 3.8%.
In March 2018, South Korea was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar's exports with close to QR 4.4 billion, a share of 18.5% of total exports, followed by Japan with almost QR 4.0 billion and a share of 16.6 %, India with about QR 2.8 billion, a share of 11.7%.
During March 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 30.4% compared to March 2017. In second place was "Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof" with QR 0.4 billion, increase of 58.7% and in third place was "Parts Of Balloons Etc.; Parts Of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc." with QR 0.3 billion, showing an increase by 12.8%.
In March 2018, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar's imports with about QR 2.0 billion, a share of 19.2% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.5 billion almost, a share of 14.0%, and India with QR 0.7 billion, a share of 6.2%.
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