Doha: In January 2023, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR34.0bn showing a decrease of 4.4 percent compared to January 2022, and decrease of 11.3 percent compared to December 2022 according to the Planning and Statistics Authority preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for January 2023.
On other hand, the imports of goods in January 2023 amounted to around QR9.7bn, showing an increase of 0.5 percent compared to January 2022. and decrease of 3.7 percent compared to December 2022.
In January 2023, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR24.3bn almost, i.e., a decrease of about QR1.6 bn or 6.2 percent compared to January 2022, and decrease by nearly QR3.9bn or 14.0 percent compared to December 2022.
The year on year (January 2023 vs. January 2022) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (Liquid Natural Gas, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR22.1bn (approximately) in January 2023, i.e. an increase of 0.3 percent, Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR5.0bn nearly, decrease by 10.4 percent, and increase in the Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 3.2bn, a 9.6 percent share.
In January 2023, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR6.3bn, a share of 18.4 percent of total exports, followed by India with almost QR 4.3bn and a share of 12.6 percent, South Korea with about QR3.6bn, a share of 10.6 percent.
The year on year (January 2023 vs. January 2022), the group of “Turbojets, Turbopropellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof” was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR1.0 bn, showing an increase of 72.0 percent.
In second place was “Electrical Apparatus for Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof” with QR0.5bn showing an increase of 29.5 percent and in third place was “Motor Cars and Other Motor Vehicles for The Transport of Persons” with QR0.4bn, increase of 16.8 percent.
In January 2023, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR1.5bn, a share of 15.8 percent of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR1.1bn almost, a share of 10.8 percent, and Italy with QR1.0bn, a share of 10.1 percent.
