The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics have released preliminary figures of the value of exports domestic goods, re-exports and imports for July 2014. A short analysis of the data is given below: In July 2014, the total exports of goods (including exports of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to QR 41.5 billion, showing an increase of 0.6% compared to the corresponding month of 2013.
On the other hand, the imports of goods in July 2014 amounted to QR 8.3 billion, a decrease of 0.3% over the value recorded in the same month last year.
In July 2014, the trade balance of goods, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 33.2 billion, an increase of QR 0.3 billion or 0.8% compared to July 2013.
The year on year (July 2014 to July 2013) rise in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 26.0 billion in July 2014, i.e. an increase of 1.2% compared to July 2013, and Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 2.5 billion (4.3%); however, the increase was partially offset by the drop in exports of Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) to reach QR 7.0 billion (13.8%). Table(1) In July 2014, the major countries of destination for Qatar’s exports were Japan with QR 10.9 billion, a share of 26.2% of total exports, South Korea with QR 6.6 billion (15.9%), and India with QR 5.1 billion (12.3%). Table(2), Graph(1) During July 2014, Motor cars & other passenger vehicles was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.7 billion, showing an increase of 2.1% compared to July 2013. In second and third place were imports of Electrical Apparatus For Line Telephony/Telegraphy, telephone sets etc.; parts thereof with QR 0.3 billion, increased by 16.4%, and Aircraft Spare Parts with QR 0.2 billion, increased by 6.0%. Table(1) In July 2014, the UAE was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with QR 1.1 billion, a share of 12.9% of the imports, followed by China with QR 0.7 billion (8.7%), and USA with QR 682 billion (8.2%).
Source : Qatar News Agency
