Santhosh V. Perumal

Qatar's trade surplus amounted to QR12.12bn in August 2019, according to the country's Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA).

The surplus however showed a 31% and 8% decline on yearly and monthly basis respectively, the PSA said.

The bulk of the exports continued to go towards Asia, which constituted about 66% of the total. In absolute terms, South Korea, Japan, China, India and Singapore were among the largest export markets of Qatar; while imports mainly came from the US, China, the UK, Germany and India during the period under review.

In August 2019, total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to QR21.21bn, which registered 20% decline year-on-year and 5% month-on-month.

The exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons fell 2% month-on-month to QR13.12bn, crude by 11% to QR3.42bn and non-crude by 27% to QR1.45bn; while those of other commodities expanded 7% to QR2.56bn.

On a yearly basis, the exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons tanked 22%, crude by 21%, other commodities by 20% and non-crude by 7%.

Petroleum gases constituted 64% of the exports of domestic products compared to 65% a year ago period, crude 17% (17%), non-crude 7% (6%) and other commodities 12% (12%).

In August this year, Qatar's shipments to South Korea stood at QR3.93bn, accounting for 19% of the total exports; Japan QR3.78bn (18%); China QR2.65bn (13%); India QR2.36bn (11%); and Singapore QR1.08bn (5%).

On a monthly basis, Doha's exports to South Korea shot up 42% and Singapore by 4%; whereas those to India and China declined 20% each, and Japan by 14%. On a yearly basis, Qatar's exports to Singapore plummeted 53%, India 46%, China 12%, South Korea 10% and Japan 4%.

The country's re-exports amounted to QR0.66bn in August 2019, which showed shrinkage of 8% on a monthly basis but witnessed 40% surge on a yearly basis.

Qatar's total imports (valued at cost insurance and freight) amounted to QR9.1bn, which showed a marginal decline month-on-month, but saw a 2% growth year-on-year in August 2019.

In August this year, imports from the US stood at QR2.51bn – a share of 28% of the total, China QR1.02bn (11%), the UK QR0.88bn (10%), Germany QR0.47bn (5%) and India QR0.44bn (5%).

On a monthly basis, the country's imports from the US saw a 71% jump and those from the UK by 15%; while those from Germany declined 26%, China 20% and India 3%.

On a yearly basis, Qatar's imports from the UK shot up 66%, German 12%, the US by 9% and China 3%; while those from India shrank 22%.

During August this year, imports of parts of aircraft amounted to QR0.4bn, motor cars and other vehicles QR0.29bn, electrical apparatus for line telephony and telephone sets QR0.2bn and other commodities at QR8.21bn.