THE exports from Qatar continue to rise despite challenges posed by COVID-19 outbreak. The figures released recently have showed that Qatar has maintained trade surplus in the past few months, helped by the rise in exports. The rising exports reflect the strength of domestic economy which has performed well despite difficult situation created by coronavirus pandemic. According to the Planning and Statistics Authority, Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR8.6bn in December 2020. In December 2020, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and reexports) amounted to around QR17.1bn, showing an increase of 3.3 percent compared to November 2020. The imports of goods in December 2020 amounted to around QR8.5bn, showing increase of 13.4 percent on month-on-month (M-o-M) basis. The trend of a robust trade surplus was also visible in the past months. Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade balance showed a surplus of QR9.1bn in November, registering a rise of nearly QR2bn or 28.6 percent compared to October 2020. The total value of exports of goods, including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports, in November 2020 reached QR16.6bn. On monthly basis, Qatar’s exports in November 2020 increased by 8.3 percent compared to October 2020, as per data released by the Planning and Statistics Authority. Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade balance expanded by nearly QR600m or 9.5 percent at QR7bn in October compared to the previous month (September 2020). The total value of exports of goods, including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports, in October 2020 reached at QR15.3bn, showing a decrease of 23.5 percent compared to the same month in 2019. On monthly basis, Qatar’s exports in October 2020 increased by 14.1 percent compared to September 2020. The imports of goods in October 2020 amounted to around QR8.3bn, showing a decrease of one percent over October 2019. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports increased by 18.3 percent. Qatar’s foreign merchandise trade balance showed a surplus of QR6.4bn in September. In September 2020, the total exports of goods ( including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR13.4bn, showing a decrease of 33.7 percent compared to September 2019, and decrease of 4.4 percent compared to August 2020. Helped by the resilience of Qatari economy and the proactive policies by government departments, the exports is expected to rise in coming months
