The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for November 2015. A brief analysis of the data is given below: In November 2015, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to QR 21.3 billion, showing a decrease of 36.7% compared to November 2014. And decreased by 5.9% compared to October 2015. )Table 1).
On other hand, the imports of goods in November 2015 amounted to QR 10.4 billion, showing an increase of 2.8% over November 2014. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decreased by 0.1%. )Table 1).
In November 2015, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 10.9 billion, i.e. a decrease of QR 12.6 billion or 53.6% compared to November 2014. And increased by QR 1.3 billion or 10.7% compared to October 2015. (Table 1).
The year on year (November 2015 to November 2014) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 13.3 billion in October 2015, i.e. a decrease of 40.6%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 2.7 billion, decreased by 51.3%, as well as the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 0.9 billion, decreased by 35.6%. (Table 1).
In November 2015, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with QR 4.2 billion, a share of 19.5% of total exports, followed by South Korea with QR 3.5 billion and a share of 16.7%, and India with QR 2.4 billion, a share of 11.3%. (Table 2, Graph 1) During November 2015, Motor cars & other passenger vehicles., was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 1.0 billion, showing a decrease of 6.1% compared to November 2014. In second place was Parts of aircraft and helicopters etc. with QR 0.6 billion, showing a decrease of 5.3%, and in third place was Electrical apparatus for line telephony/telegraphy, telephone sets etc.; parts thereof with QR 0.3 billion, increased by 21.3%. (Table 1).
In November 2015, Germany was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with QR 1.3 billion, a share of 12.6% of the imports, followed by United States of America with QR 1.1 billion, a share of 10.3%, and China with QR 1.0 billion, a share of 9.8%. (Table 2, Graph 2)
Source: Qatar news agency
