Doha: Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR19.2bn in August 2021, showing an increase of about QR12.3bn or 177.4 percent compared to August 2020. When compared month-on-month, the surplus decreased by nearly QR400m or 2.0 percent compared to July 2021, according to preliminary figures released by the Planning and Statistics Authority.
In August 2021, the total exports of goods including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports amounted to around QR27.3bn, showing an increase of 94.3 percent compared to August 2020, and decrease of 0.6 percent compared to July 2021.
On the other hand, the imports of goods in August 2021 amounted to around QR8.1bn, showing an increase of 13.6 percent compared to August 2020, and an increase of 2.9 percent compared to July 2021.
The year-on-year (August 2021 to August 2020) increase in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, and others) reaching QR16.7bn approximately in August 2021, increased by 118.2 percent, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR4.0bn nearly, increased by 67.4 percent, and Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR2.5bn, increased by 87.0 percent.
In August 2021, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar’s exports with close to QR4.6bn, a share of 17.0 percent of total exports, followed by India with almost QR3.7bn and a share of 13.6 percent, and Japan with about QR3.5bn, a share of 12.9 percent.
During August 2021, the group of “Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles For The Transport of Persons” was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR390m, showing an increase of 135.3 percent. In second place was “Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof” with QR360m, showing a decrease of 18.8 percent, and in third place was “Parts of Aeroplanes or Helicopters” with QR200m, a decrease of 6.0 percent.
In August 2021, China was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with about QR1.4bn, a share of 17.2 percent of the imports, followed by United States of America with QR900m almost, a share of 11.5 percent, and India with QR600m, a share of 7.9 percent.
