Qatar's Non-Oil Exports Exceed Values By 35%

Doha, September 30 (QNA) - The total value of Qatar's non-oil exports in August 2017 reached QR 1.796 billion compared to QR 1.328 billion in July, recording an increase of 35.2% and to QR 1.493 billion in August 2016 recording an increase of 20.3%, according to the monthly report of Qatar Chamber on the foreign trade of the private sector. The report, which was prepared, based on certificates of origin issued by Qatar Chamber's Research & Studies Department and Member Affairs Department last May, pointed out that 2819 certificates of origin were issued during the same month. The report said that Qatar's non-oil exports during August were distributed to about 58 countries compared to 59 last month. Countries receiving Qatar's non-oil exports included 13 Arab countries and GCC, 11 European countries including Turkey, 17 Asian countries (excluding Arab countries),13 African countries (excluding Arab countries) and 3 countries of North and South Americas and Australia. As in July, Oman, Netherlands and Turkey were Qatar's top non-oil exports destination in August. Oman was Qatar's top non-oil exports destination in August, accounting for QR 708.98 million or 45 percent of the total exports in the month. It is followed by Netherlands with almost QR 169.11 million or 9.4 percent and Turkey with QR 145.78 million or 8.1 percent. India comes in the fourth place with almost QR 126.32 million or 7 percent followed by Germany with QR 112.69 OR 6.3 percent. It is clear that 80% of the total value of exports were received by Asian countries. Commenting on the report, Qatar Chamber Director General Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi praised the huge surge in Qatar's exports in spite of the unfair siege imposed on Qatar. He also paid tribute to all local companies which managed to overcome the repercussions of the blockade and to get beyond all the barriers and difficulties siege courtiers set to hinder their produced to reach world markets. Al Sharqi noted that the practical response to the unjust procedures of the blockading countries is the substantial rise in exports. This success is the fruit of the efforts undertaken by all components of Qatars society and was a translation to the directives of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir, and all governmental and private sector officials. According to the report, it is clear that GCC (as an economic bloc) comes as a first destination of Qatari exports of about 40.38 % of the total exports with QR 708.177 million. Most of these exports were received by Oman. Asian countries excluding Arab countries come in the second place. They imported QR 492.205 million which represents 27.41% of the total non-oil exports. In the third place, European countries including Turkey receiving QR 471.008 million or 26.23% of the total value. Arab countries came in the fourth place excluding GCC with total exports of QR 79.455 OR 1.11%. Aluminum alloys, bars and molds topped the non-oil exports with total value of QR 479.5 million or 26.7%, whereas helium gas and other industrial gases come in the second place with QR 393.2 million or 20.2% of the total non-oil exports. Gas oils come in the third place with almost QR 255.4 million or 14.2% followed by iron grids, angles and poles with QR 204.2 million and lotrene with almost QR 115.2 million followed by polyethylene, chemical fertilizers, chemical substances and plastic rolls. It is worth mentioning that these ten goods represent 97.2% of the total value of exports. (QNA)