File photo used for representation only.
Doha: Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR19.6bn in July 2021, reflecting an increase of about QR13.3bn or 213.4 percent compared to July 2020. When compared month-on-month, the surplus increased by nearly QR2.6bn or 15.5 percent compared to June 2021, according to preliminary figures released yesterday by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA).
In July 2021, the total exports of goods including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports amounted to around QR27.5bn, showing an increase of 101.9 percent compared to July 2020, and increase of 8.7 percent compared to June 2021. On the other hand, the imports of goods in July 2021 amounted to around QR7.9bn, showing an increase of 7.1 percent compared to July 2020, and decrease of 5.3 percent compared to June 2021.
The year-on-year (July 2021 to July 2020) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 16.1bn approximately in July 2021, i.e. an increase of 105.9%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR4.4bn nearly, increased by 92.0 percent.
Increase in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR2.9bn, increased by 146.8 percent.
In July 2021, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR4.3bn, a share of 15.8 percent of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR3.88bn and a share of 14.13 percent, and Japan with about QR3.87bn, a share of 14.12 percent.
During July 2021, the group of “Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof” was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR600m, showing an increase of 0.2 percent. In second place was “Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles For The Transport Of Persons” with QR290m, showing an increase of 52.4 percent, and in third place was “Other Parts Of Aero planes Or Helicopters” with QR260m, an increase of 27.0 percent.
In July 2021, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR1.3bn, a share of 16.6 percent of the imports, followed by the US with QR900m almost, a share of 11.4 percent, and the UK with QR600m, a share of 7.8 percent.
