Qatar Foreign Merchandise Trade Surplus Stands at QR 7.5 Billion in May

Doha, June 27 (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 May 2016. In May 2016, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 17.0 billion, showing a decrease of 31.4% compared to May 2015. And increased by 13.4% compared to April 2016, the Ministry said in a press release. On other hand, the imports of goods in May 2016 amounted to around QR 9.5 billion, showing decrease of 1.1% over May 2015. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decreased by 7.2%. In May 2016, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 7.5 billion almost, i.e. a decrease of about QR 7.7 billion or 50.4% compared to May 2015. And increased by nearly QR2.7 billion or 57.3% compared to April 2016. The year on year (May 2016 to May 2015) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 9.9 billion approximately in May 2016, i.e. a decrease of 38.2%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.1 billion nearly, decreased by 17.9%, as well as the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 0.9 billion, decreased by 22.4%. In May 2016, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar's exports with close to QR 2.8 billion, a share of 16.3% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 2.6 billion and a share of 15.5%, India with about QR 1.9 billion, a share of 11.3%. During May 2016, Motor cars & other passenger vehicles, was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.5 billion, showing a decrease of 33.6% compared to May 2015. In second place was Electrical Apparatus For Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof. with QR 0.3 billion, showing an increase by 24.0%, and in third place was Parts of aircraft and helicopters etc. with QR 0.3 billion, decreased of 45.0%. In May 2016, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar's imports with about QR 1.0 billion, a share of 11.0% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.0 billion almost, a share of 10.9%, and United Arab Emirates with a little above QR 1.0 billion, a share of 10.7%. (QNA)