Qatar Trade Surplus Rises 42.7% in July 2018

Doha, August 27 (QNA) - The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for July 2018. The foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 16.9 billion almost, i.e. an increase of about QR 5.0 billion or 42.7% compared to July 2017, and decreased by nearly QR 1.1 billion or 6.1% compared to June 2018. In July 2018, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 26.6 billion, showing an increase of 45.3% compared to July 2017, and decrease by 1.1% compared to June 2018. ) On other hand, the imports of goods in July 2018 amounted to around QR 9.7 billion, showing an increase of 50.0% over July 2017. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increased by 9.0%. ) Table 1). The year on year (July 2018 to July 2017) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching 16.2 billion approximately in July 2018, i.e. an increase of 42.3%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 4.5 billion nearly, increased by 82.0%, and increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 2.4 billion, increased by 60.6%. In July 2018, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar's exports with close to QR 5.2 billion, a share of 19.6% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 4.0 billion and a share of 15.2 %, India with about QR 2.8 billion, a share of 10.6%. During July 2018, the group of "Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.6 billion, showing an increase of 81.1% compared to July 2017. In second place was "Motor cars & other passenger vehicles" with QR 0.3 billion, decrease of 24.9% and in third place was "Parts of Balloons Etc.; Parts of Aircraft, Spacecraft Etc." with QR 0.3 billion, showing an increase by 0.7%. In July 2018, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar's imports with about QR 1.4 billion, a share of 14.6% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.2 billion almost, a share of 12.8%, and Germany with QR 0.8 billion, a share of 7.8%. (QNA)