The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports, and imports for June 2020. A brief analysis of the data is given below:
In June 2020, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 12,7 billion, showing a decrease of 41.1% compared to June 2019, and decrease of 4.0% compared to May 2020.
On other hand, the imports of goods in June 2020 amounted to around QR 6,9 billion, showing a decrease of 14.8% over June 2019. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decrease by 13.5% compared to May 2020.
In June 2020, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 5,9 billion almost, i.e. a decrease of about QR 7.7 billion or 56.7% compared to June 2019, And increased by nearly QR 0.5 billion or 10.2% compared to May 2020.
The year on year (June 2020 to June 2019) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 7,4 billion approximately in June 2020, i.e. a decrease of 41.8%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 1,5 billion nearly, decreased by 62.2%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR 1,0 billion, decreased by 41.3%.
In June 2020, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR 2.0 billion, a share of 15.8% of total exports, followed by India with almost QR 2,0 billion and a share of 15.3%, Japan with about QR 1.8 billion, a share of 14.2%.
During June 2020, the group of " Parts of Aero planes or Helicopters" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.2 billion, showing an decrease of 45.4% compared to June 2019. In second place was " Medicaments Containing Alkaloids, Other " with QR 0.1 billion, showing an increase of 123.4% and in third place was “Motor Vehicle The Year Clearing or Subsequent of the Year” with QR 0.1 billion, decrease of 28.1%.
In June 2020, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR 1,2 billion, a share of 17.0% of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 1.0 billion almost, a share of 14.4%, and Germany with QR 0.6 billion, a share of 9.3%.
