Doha: Qatar’s private sector exports reached QR14.9bn last year, a decrease of 30 percent compared to QR21.6bn recorded in 2019, according to the latest monthly economic newsletter of the Qatar Chamber (QC).
The report added that data gathered from the private sector exports indicate the ability of the private sector and the Qatari economy in general to overcome the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and return to levels before the crisis.
In December, the exports of the private sector increased by 133 percent compared to April, the lowest month of the year, while it decreased by 31 percent compared to February which is the highest month of the year.
According to the type of commodities, the private sector’s exports of industrial gases topped the list of exports at QR405m, recording an increase of 146 percent compared to QR164m in November.
In December 2020, Oman was at the top of the countries of destination of private sector exports with close to QR362m, a share of 27.13 percent of the total exports. It was followed by India with almost QR217m and a share of 16.3 percent, and Netherlands with about QR124m, and a share of 9.34 percent. Singapore came in fourth place with almost QR119m, a share of 8.95 percent and Turkey with about QR109m, a share of 8.21 percent.
At the level of blocs and groupings, Asian countries were at the top of economic blocs that received exports of the private sector amounting to QR658m, with a share of 49.4 percent of the total value, followed by GCC states with a share of 28.8 percent with exports of QR384m. In third place came the group of EU states, with exports totaling QR207m representing 15.6 percent of the total value, followed by Arab countries excluding GCC states that received QR62m, a share of 4.5 percent and the USA with exports amounting to QR17m, a share of 1.3 percent. The group of African countries (excluding Arab states) came in sixth place with exports reaching QR5m, a share of 0.36, and followed by the group of other American countries and Other European countries, which received exports of values 0.08 percent and 0.05 percent respectively.
The report also featured the trade of private sector during December 2020 according to the certificate of origin issued by the Chamber which exceeded QR1.333bn, showing a month-on-month increase of 13.4 percent compared to QR1.175bn in November.
This increase in private sector exports is attributed to the sharp increase of 286 percent in exports through the Unified GCC Model certificate of origin, which increased from QR99m to QR382m.
Exports through Unified GCC to Singapore model also recorded an increase of 13.3 percent, while exports through the General Model certificate of origin and exports through the Unified Arab Model decreased by 12.9 percent and 14 percent respectively. Exports through GSP Model maintained the same level registered in November.
The QC report also highlighted the country’s foreign trade according to certificates of origin issued by the Chamber. Citing data released by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) for December 2020, the report said the total value of Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade stood at QR25.6billin, showing an increase of 6.2 percent compared to November 2020, which amounted to QR24.1bn.
