The Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) is pleased to publish the Press Release on "Quarterly Foreign Merchandise Trade Statistics, Q3 2020 State of Qatar", comprising quarterly data on imports, exports, re-exports, and trade balance. The bulletin presents detailed statistics of the foreign merchandise trade of Qatar by commodity and partner country. Quarter-on-Quarter (Q-o-Q) percentage changes are also provided.
Foreign Merchandise Trade Balance: In Q3 2020, Qatar recorded a merchandise trade balance surplus (difference between total exports and imports) of QR19.6 billion down from QR 38.0 billion in Q3 2019.
Total Exports: In Q3 2020, the value of Qatar’s total exports (including exports of domestic goods and re-exports) amounted to QR 41.1 billion, decreased by QR 22.6 billion (35.5%) compared to Q3 2019 which amounted total exports of QR 63.7 billion. And increased by nearly QR 3.3 billion or 8.6% compared to Q2 2020.
The Q3 2020 year on year (Y-o-Y) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials by QR 21.0 billion (38.5%), Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly By Material by QR 1.1 billion (49.5%), Chemicals and Related Products n.e.s. by 0.5 billion (9.1%), and Crude Materials Inedible Except Fuels by QR 0.2 billion (81.1%). On other hand increases was recorded mainly in Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles by 0.2 billion (71.7%).
Imports: The value of Qatar’s imports in Q3 2020 was QR 21.5 billion; decreased by QR 4.2 billion (16.5%) compared to Q3 2019 imports of QR 25.7 billion. And decreased by nearly QR 0.8 billion or 3.6% compared to Q2 2020.
The Q3 2020 (Y-o-Y) decrease in imports values is mainly due to decreases in Machinery and Transport Equipment by QR 3.0 billion (26.3%), Crude Materials, Inedible Except Fuels by QR 1.1 billion (69.4%), Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material by QR 0.5 billion (13.4%) and Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials by QR 0.1 billion (47.9%). On other hand increases was recorded mainly in Miscellaneous manufactured articles by QR 0.2 billion (6.6%) and Chemicals and Related Products n.e.s.by 0.2 billion (8.8%).
Major Export/Import Partners: During Q3 2020, Asia was the principal destination of Qatar’s exports and the first origin of Qatar’s imports, representing 79.0% and 39.7% respectively, followed by the European Union, accounting for 9.0% and 29.8% respectively, and GCC, with 6.0% and 3.3% respectively.
