DOHA: The bilateral trade between Qatar and Saudi Arabia touched QR6.94bn in 2015. Qatar’s imports from Saudi Arabia were at QR5.11bn while exports stood at QR1.83bn last year, according to data provided by Qatar Chamber.
Saudi Arabia is a major trade partner of Qatar. As per the Quarterly Bulletin on the Foreign Merchandise Trade Statistics- First Quarter 2016, released recently by the Minister of Development Planning and Statistics, Saudi Arabia was the second biggest source of imports after the United Arab Emirates in the GCC region.
Qatar imports a number of items from Saudi Arabia, including livestock, milk products, iron structures and other metal products, chemicals and other food items.
Though the trade between the two countries declined in 2015 compared to the previous year, the trade has witnessed gradual increase in the past years. The trade between Qatar and Saudi Arabia stood around QR8bn in 2014, up from QR7.9bn in 2013.
Qatar’s imports from Saudi Arabia were at around QR5bn while exports to the Kingdom were at around QR3bn in 2014, while in 2013, imports from Saudi Arabia here were at QR4.43bn while exports from Qatar were at QR3.5bn. A year before in 2012, the trade between the two countries was at QR7.3bn.
The bilateral trade between the two countries is expected to increase in coming years as both countries have taken steps to boost trade. Qatar Chamber will organise the fifth edition of ‘Made in Qatar’ exhibition in Riyadh from November 6 to 9 this year. The exhibition will open new avenues of cooperation between entrepreneurs of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The exhibition will see participation of all kinds of companies ranging from Qatar’s biggest companies to small and medium enterprises. The total area of the exhibition will be 10,000 metres, giving ample space for participants to exhibit their products.
