Doha: Qatar’s preliminary full year 2012 GDP data, which was released at the end of March showed that real GDP grew 6.2 percent, which was 0.4 percent points stronger than QNB Group had projected.
The non-oil and gas sector was the main driver of growth in 2012, as QNB Group had expected, expanding by 10.0 percent. The share of the non-oil and gas sector in the overall economy increased to 42.2 percent in 2012 from 40.7 percent in 2011.
Growth in the oil and gas sector was just 1.7 percent as an increase in gas production to supply the new Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) facility more than offset declining crude oil production. The same project helped drive strong growth of 11.8 percent in the manufacturing sector.
Manufacturing was also supported by a ramp-up in production of petrochemicals and fertilisers at new facilities. Strong growth in government services of 11.5 percent in 2012 was another important factor driving growth, supported by expenditure in public administration, healthcare and education. This trend is likely to continue with the recent 2013/14 budget announcement including 21 percent higher capital spending and 16 percent higher current spending than in the 2012/13 budget.
A pick up in project activity in the second half of 2012 boosted both construction and transport and communication.
These sectors grew at 10.6 percent and 12.1 percent in 2012. With the strong government capital spending increases, they are likely to see continued growth in 2013-14. Financial services achieved a strong growth rate of 6.7 percent, although this is slower than in the rest of the non-oil and gas economy. With some major new road, rail and other project phases likely to be initiated in 2013-14, financial services should receive a positive boost going forward.
The trade, restaurants and hotels sector grew by 7.7 percent in 2012, driven by population growth. The average annual increase in the number of people in Qatar was 6 percent in 2012.
The Y-o-Y increase has accelerated to an average of 8.5 percent so far in 2013, which should provide further impetus to this sector.
Government efforts to promote Qatar as a destination for conferences have also helped boost this sector. Of particular note was the 18th UN Climate Change Conference in Doha in December 2012. Strong real growth in the non-oil sector is a positive indication for government plans to diversify the economy, according to QNB Group. Trade data for 2012 was also released at the end of March. Overall, exports increased 16 percent to $133bn in 2012.
The bulk of the increase came from exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which accounts for around 40 percent of oil and gas exports. Production of LNG was close to full capacity in 2011 and remained level in 2012. Therefore, the increase in export earnings from LNG was mainly due to higher prices.
Benchmark Japanese LNG prices were 14 percent higher in 2012 than in 2011 and EU prices were 9.1 percent higher. Exports of crude oil fell by 1.1 percent in 2012 as production dropped while prices remained largely unchanged.
Non-oil exports grew strongly in 2012. Recently completed manufacturing facilities in the petrochemicals, metals and fertiliser sectors have helped to boost production and exports. This is a further indication that efforts to diversify the economy are gaining some traction.
Having fallen since 2008, Qatar’s imports picked up by 17 percent in 2012. Typically, around half of imports over the past five years have been machinery and transport equipment related to major projects in Qatar.
The completion of all new LNG production facilities by early 2011 played a large role in the slowdown of imports during 2008-11. The reversal of this trend in 2012 is an indication that project activity is again beginning to pick up with the roll out of major infrastructure projects, such as the metro, roads and real estate developments.
According to QNB Group, the strong revenue stream from the oil and gas sector will support an expansive government expenditure outlay for infrastructure development going forward, as demonstrated by the large increase in expenditures in the 2013/14 budget.
The Peninsula
