Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR34.2bn in April 2022, registering an increase of about QR21.4bn or 167.3 percent compared to the corresponding period last year (April 2021). When compared month-on-month (M-o-M), the surplus increased by nearly QR7.5bn or 28.1 percent compared to March 2022, according to preliminary figures released by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) yesterday.
In April 2022, the total exports of goods including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports amounted to around QR43.5bn, showing an increase of 107.4 percent compared to April 2021, and an increase of 18.4 percent compared to March 2022.
On other hand, the imports of goods in April 2022 amounted to around QR9.3bn, showing an increase of 13.6 percent compared to April 2021, and a decrease of 7.6 percent compared to March 2022.
The year-on-year (April 2022 vs. April 2021) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, and others) reaching QR27.8bn approximately in April 2022, an increase of 108.0 percent, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR6.8bn nearly, increased by 111.9 percent, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR3.7bn, increased by 104.1 percent.
In April 2022, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR6.6bn, a share of 15.1 percent of total exports, followed by India with almost QR5.5bn and a share of 12.7 percent, and Japan with about QR4.5bn, a share of 10.4 percent.
During April 2022, the group of “Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof” was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR700m, showing an increase of 40.0 percent. In second place was “Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for the Transport of Persons” with QR400m, showing an increase of 12.0 percent and in third place was “Electrical Apparatus for Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets and others; Parts Thereof” with QR300m, an increase of 5.8 percent.
In April 2022, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR1.5bn, a share of 15.7 percent of the imports, followed by the United States of America with QR1.2bn almost, a share of 13.3 percent, and India with QR700m, a share of 7.5 percent.
