DOHA: Qatar’s real GDP is expected to expand at a rapid pace during the second half of 2013 growing 6.5 percent for the full year. Supported by large infrastructure investments and associated population growth, the economy is expected to grow 6.8 percent in 2014, said a report by Qatar National Bank (QNB) Group.
The growth figures for the first quarter confirm the continued process of diversification of the Qatar economy away from its traditional role as a hydrocarbon exporter toward a manufacturing and services hub, stated the report, citing Qatar Statistics Authority data. The current account surplus peaked on robust export performance and inflation remained moderate, the report added.
The growth figures for the first quarter of 2013 confirm the continued process of diversification of the Qatar economy away from its traditional role as a hydrocarbon exporter toward a manufacturing and services hub. Manufacturing was the fastest growing sector (12.5 percent), boosted by production from the new Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) facilities.
Construction is booming, growing by 11.7 percent (6.3 percent in the first quarter alone) — an indicator that the rollout of Qatar’s infrastructure development programme is gathering steam. On the other hand, the oil and gas sector — still the largest component of real GDP at 42 percent — was the lowest contributor to growth, expanding only at an annual rate of 0.8 percent as maintenance downtime at LNG facilities and fluctuations in oil production in late 2012 affected the first quarter results.
Population growth continues to drive the strong performance in other sectors of the economy. Trade, Restaurants and Hotels grew 10.5 percent in the 12 months to March 2013, boosted by the influx of expatriates required to implement major infrastructure projects. Financial Services benefited from the booming economy, growing at an annual rate of 10.5 percent (5.8 percent in the first quarter alone). Government and Social Services, together with Electricity, Gas & Water, all grew in line with the additional demand from the growing population.
The actual figures for the first quarter of 2013 are in line with QNB Group’s full-year forecasts of 6.5 percent growth in 2013 and 6.8 percent in 2014, as outlined in the 2013 Qatar Economic Insight report.
The acceleration in economic activity is expected to be driven by large infrastructure projects that are being implemented in Qatar including the $35bn metro and railway project for which contracts have recently been awarded.
Another leading indicator of higher activity comes from population growth, which reached 11.3 percent in the twelve months to June 2013. The key driver of growth will therefore continue to be the non-hydrocarbon sector at least until 2015, when the Barzan gas project is expected to start production.
Inflation has stabilised at a moderate level (3.5 percent) in May 2013. Rents, which are nearly a third of the consumer price index, have recovered from their trough in June 2012, but the rate of rental increases has been slowing in recent months while non-rent inflation has fallen. The latest data is in line with QNB Group’s forecast for 3.5 percent inflation in 2013 as a whole, increasing slightly to 3.8 percent in 2014.
With strong growth, stable inflation and high current account surpluses, Qatar’s economic outlook remains strong, according to QNB Group. Large fiscal and current account surpluses should provide Qatar with ample resources to invest in major infrastructure projects, pushing further the process of economic diversification into a manufacturing and services hub.
The Peninsula
