Qatar Foreign Merchandise Trade Surplus Amounted to QR 13.7 billion

Doha, October 05 (QNA) - The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for August 2015. A brief analysis of the data is given below: In August 2015, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to QR 23.8 billion, showing a decrease of 39.9% compared to August 2014. However, the total exports of goods increased by 1.2% compared to July 2015. On the other hand, the imports of goods in August 2015 amounted to QR 10.1 billion, showing an increase of 8.9% over August 2014. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increased by 9.8%. In August 2015, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 13.7 billion, i.e. a decrease of QR 16.6 billion or 54.8% compared to August 2014. However, the trade balances of goods decreased by QR 0.6 billion or 4.3% compared to July 2015. The year on year (August 2015 to August 2014) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 14.8 billion in August 2015, i.e. a decrease of 43.7%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.2 billion 52.7%, as well as the decrease in Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.0 billion 50.2%. In August 2015, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatars exports with QR 4.2 billion, a share of 17.8% of total exports, followed by South Korea with QR 3.8 billion 15.9% and India with QR 2.9 billion 12.0%. During August 2015, Motor cars & other passenger vehicles., was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.7 billion, showing an decrease of 12.6% compared to August 2014. In second place was Parts of aircraft and helicopters etc. with QR 0.5 billion, showing an increase of 680.0%, and in third place was Electrical Apparatus for Line, Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof., with QR 0.3 billion, Increased by 39.6%. In August 2015, China was the leading country of origin of Qatars imports with QR 1.4 billion, a share of 14.4% of the imports, followed by United States of America with QR 1.1 billion 10.5%, and United Arab Emirates with QR 0.9 billion 8.9%. (QNA)