Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, expanded by nearly QR700m or 6.2 percent at QR12.9bn in September compared to the previous month (August 2019). The trade surplus slipped by about QR2.6bn or 16.7 percent when compared to the corresponding month previous year (September 2018).
The total value of exports of goods, including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports, in September 2019 reached at QR20.3bn, showing a decrease of 24.1 percent compared to the same month in 2018. On monthly basis, Qatar’s exports in September 2019 decreased by 4.1 percent compared to August 2019, preliminary data released by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
On the other hand, the imports of goods in September 2019 amounted to around QR7.5bn, showing a decrease of 34.2 percent over September 2018. However, on a month on month (m-o-m) basis the imports decreased by 17.8 percent.
The year-on-year decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, among others) reaching at about QR12.3bn in September 2019, a decrease of 26.4 percent, Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR3.2bn, decreased by 22.3 percent, and decrease in the Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR1.9bn, decreased by 28.1 percent.
In September 2019, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR3.5bn, a share of 17.4 percent of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR2.9bn and a share of 14.5 percent, and India with about QR2.6bn, a share of 12.8 percent.
During September 2019, the group of “Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof” was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR600m, showing an increase of 34.5 percent compared to September 2018.
In second place was “Parts of Balloons, and others; Parts of Aircraft, Spacecraft, and others” with QR300m, showing an increase of 0.7 percent, and in third place was “Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles For The Transport of Persons” with QR300m, decrease of 15.6 percent.
In September 2019, the US was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR1.2bn, a share of 15.7 percent of the imports, followed by China with QR1bn almost, a share of 13.0 percent, and Germany with QR500m, a share of 6.7 percent.
