DOHA: The value of Qatar’s total export of goods, including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports, stood at QR21.3bn in November, a 36.7 percent decrease on year-on-year and a 5.9 percent on month-on-month decline.
On other hand, the imports of goods in November touched QR10.4bn, showing an increase of 2.8 percent over November 2014. However, on a month-on-month basis the imports decreased by 0.1 percent, preliminary figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics noted yesterday.
In November 2015, the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR10.9bn, a decrease of QR 12.6bn, or 53.6 percent, compared to November 2014. The trade balance increased by QR1.3bn, or 10.7 percent, compared to October 2015. The year-on-year decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons reaching QR13.3bn in October 2015, a decrease of 40.6 percent. Export value of Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reached QR2.7bn, down 51.3 percent. The export value of Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reached Q0.9bn, down 35.6 percent.
In November 2015, Japan was at the top destination with QR4.2bn, 19.5 percent of total exports, followed by South Korea with QR3.5bn (16.7 percent), and India with QR2.4bn, a share of 11.3 percent. Motor cars & other passenger vehicles was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR1.0bn, showing a decrease of 6.1 percent compared to November 2014. In second place was Parts of aircraft and helicopters etc. with QR0.6bn, a decrease of 5.3 percent followed by Electrical apparatus telephone sets etc accounting for QR0.3bn, an increase by 21.3 percent.
