Qatar Chamber Director-General Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi
DOHA: Qatar’s non-oil exports for the first quarter of 2018 touched QR5.64bn, up 15.1 percent or QR4.9bn, compared to the same period in 2017, according to the monthly report of Qatar Chamber.
The Chamber, in its report which was prepared based on certificates of origin issued by the Chambers Research & Studies Department and Member Affairs Department, pointed out about 2876 certificates of origin were issued in March 2018.
In March, Qatar exported goods and services to about 57 countries, including 11 Arab countries and GCC, 10 European countries including Turkey, 16 Asian countries (excluding Arab countries), 15 African countries (excluding Arab countries), 3 countries of North America, and one of South America and Australia.
Oman was still Qatar’s top non-oil exports destination in March 2018 accounting for QR485.8m or 35.8 percent of the total exports.
It was followed by Netherland with almost QR209.1m or 15.4 percent and Turkey with QR87.7 m or 6.5 percent.
India came in fourth place with almost QR78.8m or 5.8 percent followed Bangladesh by with QR76.3m or 5.6 percent. Hong Kong was in the sixth place followed by Germany, Indonesia, China and Australia.
“It is clear that 85.2 percent of the total value of exports were received by the first ten countries above mentioned,” the QC report said.
GCC countries (Oman and Kuwait) as an economic bloc were top destinations of Qatari exports amounting to 37.1 percent of the total exports with QR502.4m. Most of them was received by Oman.
Asian countries excluding Arab countries come in the second place. They imported goods worth QR440 m, which represents 32.4 percent of the total non-oil exports.
European countries including Turkey come in the third place amounting to 20.4 percent of the total value with QR276.3m.
In the fourth place, Arab countries excluding GCC received QR76.1m or 5.6percent of the total value.
Australia came in the fifth place receiving QR 30.8m followed by African countries which received QR23.2 m followed by North America and South America.
Commenting on the report, QC’s Director-General Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi (pictured) said that despite the slight decrease in the value of March’s non-oil exports compared to the last month, new markets have entered to the fray with advanced position such as Netherland and Australia.
He noted that the escalating surge in Qatar exports in the first quarter of 2018 assured that the country is not affected by the siege.
Non-oil exports value increased by 15 percent than its level before the blockade, he added.
Sharqi expressed the hope that the private sector companies would maintain the active contribution in the economic process, particularly in light of the great support from the government.
