Qatar's Trade Balance Shows Surplus of QR 13.8 Billion in February

Doha, March 27 (QNA) - In February 2019, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 13.8 billion almost, i.e. a decrease of about QR 0.3 billion or 1.9 percent compared to February 2018, and decreased by nearly QR 2.1 billion or 13.1 percent compared to January 2019. In February 2019, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 22.3 billion, showing a decrease of 0.5 percent compared to February 2018, and decreased by 9.7 percent compared to January 2019. On other hand, the imports of goods in February 2019 amounted to around QR 8.5 billion, showing an increase of 1.9 percent over February 2018. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decrease by 3.8 percent. The year on year (February 2019 to February 2018) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 14.5 billion approximately in February 2019, i.e. an increase of 6.0 percent, Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 3.4 billion nearly, decreased by 14.3 percent, and decrease in the Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1.6 billion, decreased by 15.1 percent. In February 2019, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar's exports with close to QR 4.5 billion, a share of 20.4 percent of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 4.4 billion and a share of 19.7 percent, China with about QR 3.1 billion, a share of 13.7 percent. During February 2019, the group of "Parts of Balloons Etc.; Parts of Aircraft, Spacecraft etc." was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.4 billion, showing an increase of 71.4 percent compared to February 2018. In second place was "motor cars and other passenger vehicles" with QR 0.3 billion, showing a decreased by 35.9 percent, and in third place was "turbojets, turbo propellers and other gas turbines; parts thereof " with QR 0.2 billion, decrease of 3.6 percent. In February 2019, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar's imports with about QR 1.3 billion, a share of 14.9 percent of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.02 billion almost, a share of 12.0 percent, and Germany with QR 1.01 billion, a share of 11.9 percent. (QNA)