Qatar Foreign Merchandise Trade Surplus at QR 12.5 Billion in September

Doha, October 25 (QNA) - Qatar's foreign merchandise trade balance in September 2017, (which represents the difference between total exports and imports,) showed a surplus of QR 12.5 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 3.7 billion or 41.5 percent compared to September 2016, and decreased by nearly QR 0.2 billion or 1.7 percent compared to August 2017. The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for September 2017. In September 2017, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 20.6 billion, showing an increase of 20.0 percent compared to September 2016, and decrease by 3.8 percent compared to August 2017. On other hand, the imports of goods in September 2017 amounted to around QR 8.1 billion, showing decrease of 2.8 percent over September 2016. However, month on month basis imports decreased by 6.9 percent. The year-on-year (September 2017 to September 2016) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 4.4 billion nearly, increased by 81.5 percent, and increase in the Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.7 billion, increased by 118.7 percent, while decreases were shown in the group of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons LNG, condensates, propane, butane, reaching 11.4 billion approximately in September 2017, an decrease of 0.1 percent. In September 2017, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar's exports with close to QR 3.4 billion, a share of 16.7 percent of total exports, followed by Singapore with almost QR 3.0 billion and a share of 14.5 percent, South Korea with about QR 2.9 billion, a share of 14.0 percent. During September 2017, the group of motor cars and other passenger vehicles was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.3 billion, showing a decrease of 39.9 percent compared to September 2016. In second place was turbojets, turbo propellers and other gas turbines; parts thereof, with QR 0.3 billion, showing a decrease by 20.9 percent, and in third place was parts of aircraft and helicopters, with QR 0.2 billion, decrease of 3.4 percent. In September 2017, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar's imports with about QR 1.0 billion, a share of 12.5 percent of the imports, followed by the United States with QR 0.9 billion almost, a share of 10.8 percent, and Germany with QR 0.7 billion, a share of 8.6 percent. (QNA)