Qatar Foreign Merchandise Trade Surplus Amounts to QAR 13.2 Bn in July 2019

Qatar Foreign Merchandise Trade Surplus Amounts to QAR 13.2 Bn in July 2019

August 27, 2019

In July 2019, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QAR 13.2 billion, a decrease of about 21.8% compared to July 2018, And a decrease of 5.3% compared to June 2019.

According to a statement issued by the Planning & Statistics Authority on foreign trade statistics for the month of July 2019, the merchandise trade balance decreased by about QAR 3.7 billion, compared to the same month last year, and by about QAR 0.7 billion, compared with June 2019.

Data shows that in July 2019, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QAR 22.3 billion, showing a decrease of 16.0% compared to July 2018, and increased by 1.5% compared to June 2019. On other hand, the imports of goods in July 2019 amounted to around QAR 9.1 billion, showing a decrease of 6.0% over July 2018. However, on a month on month basis, the imports increased by 13.3%.

The exports of Petroleum gas and other hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) have lowered to reach QAR 13.4 billion approximately in July 2019. This means a decrease of 17.0%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QAR 3.8 billion nearly, dropping by 14.5%. In addition, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) fell by 18.4%to QAR 2.0 billion.

In July 2019, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination for Qatar’s exports with close to QAR 4.4 billion, a share of 19.6% of total exports, followed by China with almost QAR 3.3 billion and a share of 14.8 %, India with about QAR 3.0 billion, a share of 13.2%.

During July 2019, the group of “Turbojets, Turbo propellers and other Gas Turbines, and their parts” were at the top of imported commodities, with QAR 0.9 billion, an increase of 54.0% compared to July 2018. Followed by “Parts of regular and vertical aircraft” with QR 0.3 billion, an increase of 7.5%, and in third place was “Electrical Apparatus For Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets and their parts” with QAR 0.3 billion, a climb of 31.3%.

In July 2019, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QAR 1.5 billion, a share of 16.0% of the imports, followed by China with QAR 1.3 billion almost, a share of 13.9%, and United Kingdom with QAR 0.8 billion, a share of 8.4%.