Qatar Foreign Merchandise Trade Surplus Was QR 10.7
Billion in December 2016
January 27, 2017
The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released
preliminary figures of the value of
exports of domestic goods, re-exports
and imports for December 2016.
In December 2016, the total exports of
goods (including exports of goods of
domestic origin and re-exports) amounted
to around QR19.3 Billion, showing a
decrease of 2.6% compared to December
2015, and increased by 2.6% compared to
November 2016.
On other hand, the imports of goods in
December 2016 amounted to around QR 8.5
billion, showing decrease of 22.2% over
December 2015. However, on a month on
month (M-o-M) basis the imports
decreased by 6.1%.
In December 2016, the foreign
merchandise trade balance, which
represents the difference between total
exports and imports, showed a surplus of
QR 10.7 Billion almost, i.e. an increase
of about QR 1.9 Billion or 21.7%
compared to December 2015, And increased
by nearly QR 1.0 Billion or 10.7%
compared to November 2016.
The year on year (December 2016 to
December 2015) decrease in total exports
was mainly due to lower exports of
Petroleum gases and other gaseous
hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane,
butane, etc.) reaching 11.9 billion
approximately in December 2016, i.e. a
decrease of 6.6%, while increase was
shown in Petroleum oils & oils from
bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR
3.4 billion nearly, increased by 52.9%,
and decreases in the Petroleum oils &
oils from bituminous minerals (not
crude) reaching QR 0.9 Billion,
increased by 4.6%.
In December 2016, Japan was at the top
of the countries of destination of
Qatar's exports with close to QR 3.3
Billion, a share of 17.3% of total
exports, followed by South Korea with
almost QR 3.1 Billion and a share of
16.0%, India with about QR 2.3 Billion,
a share of 11.8%.
During December 2016, Motor cars and
other passenger vehicles, was at the top
of the imported group of commodities,
with QR 0.7 Billion, showing a decrease
of 38.6% compared to December 2015. In
second place was Electrical Apparatus
for Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone
Sets etc. Parts Thereof. With QR 0.2
Billion, showing a decrease by 11.1%,
and in third place was Parts of Balloons
Etc., Parts of Aircraft, Spacecraft
Etc., with QR 0.2 Billion, decreased of
79.9%.
In December 2016, United State of
America was the leading country of
origin of Qatar's imports with about QR
1.2 Billion, a share of 13.5% of the
imports, followed by United Arab
Emirates with QR 1.0 Billion almost, a
share of 11.3% and China with QR 0.8
billion, a share of 9.6%.