Doha: Qatar’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2013 at constant prices (price inflation adjusted GDP) is estimated at QR88.41bn which shows an increase of 6.2 percent compared to the estimate of Q1 of 2012 at QR83.23bn. However, compared to the previous quarter (Q4 of 2012) estimate of QR87.07bn, there has been a growth of 1.6 percent, a press release by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics said.
The constant price GVA of Mining and Quarrying sector in Q1, 2013 has been estimated at QR37.55bn, which shows an increase of 0.8 percent over the estimate of Q1, 2012 which was at QR37.25.
The GVA estimate of non-mining and Quarrying sectors in Q1, 2013, totalled QR50.86bn, which shows an increase of 10.6 percent over the estimate of Q1, 2012 placed at QR45.99bn.
An analysis by industry group, comparing the performance in Q1 of 2013 with the corresponding quarter in 2012 [Year-on-Year Basis] and with the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2012 is given in the following paragraphs.
The GVA of Manufacturing sector is estimated at QR8.31bn in Q1, 2013 showing an increase of 12.5 percent over the corresponding quarter of 2012 (QR7.38bn). Compared to the previous quarter (Q4 of 2012), the growth of 1.6 percent has been seen in the GVA of this sector.
The growth in this activity has resulted from the double digit rise in the production of petrochemicals and gas-to-liquids (GTLs) products.
The GVA of the Construction sector at QR10.36bn in Q1 of 2013 showing an increase of 11.7 percent when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2012 (QR9.28bn).
The construction activity in Q1, 2013 shows a rise of 6.3 percent when compared to the estimate in Q4, 2012.
The GVA of the Trade, Hotel and Restaurants sector is estimated at QR6.36bn in Q1 of 2013 registering an increase of 10.5 percent over the corresponding quarter of 2012 (QR5.76bn). However, there has been a decline of 11 percent in the GVA of this group when compared with the previous quarter (Q4 of 2012) estimate of QR7.15bn.
This fall is caused mainly by seasonality seen in the sales of goods. Besides this, the impact of high activity seen in the hotel and restaurant sector in Q4, 2012, while hosting major international conferences, shows a fall in GVA of Q1, 2013 when compared to previous quarter.
The Transport and Communication sector generated a value added of QR6.10bn in Q1, 2013 against QR5.66bn in Q1, 2012 showing a rise of 7.9 percent. However, compared to the previous quarter (Q4 of 2012) the GVA estimate is up by 2.5 percent.
For Finance, Insurance, Real Estate & Business Services, the GVA is estimated at QR10.1bn in Q1 of 2013, showing an increase of 10.5 percent when compared to the corresponding quarter (Q1) estimate of QR9.13bn in 2012. Compared to the previous quarter (Q4 of 2012), there is an increase of 5.8 percent in the first quarter of 2013.
The contribution of the Government Services which includes the provision of public health, education and other miscellaneous services is estimated at QR9.56bn in Q1 of 2013, which is 9.4 percent higher than the estimate of Q1 of 2012.
The quarterly GDP in the Q1 of 2013 at current prices is estimated at QR185.30bn. This represents an increase of 6.1 percent compared to the estimate of Q1 of 2012 placed at QR174.65bn. When compared to previous quarter estimates of QR180.87bn, the increase is 2.4 percent.
QNA
