Qatar’s trade surplus amounted to QR4.27bn in April this year amidst higher imports from China and the novel coronavirus Covid-19, according to the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA).
The country's merchandise trade surplus, however, witnessed 66.9% and 44% year-on-year and month-on-month declines respectively; reflecting the continuing impact of the pandemic, whose pecuniary costs in terms of disruptions to the world economy and trade are yet to be ascertained in total.
The Asian region accounted for about 55% of Qatar's exports, while the imports were from diversified geographies.
In April 2020, total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) were QR11.76bn, showing 46.3% and 26.3% drop on yearly and monthly basis respectively.
The exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons shrank 45% year-on-year to QR7.62bn, crude by 68.4% to QR1.19bn, non-crude by 62% to QR0.48bn and other commodities by 26.6% to QR1.69bn at the end of April 2020.
On a monthly basis, the exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons tanked 27.7%, crude by 35.4%, non-crude by 34.7% and other commodities by 12.1%.
Petroleum gases constituted 69% of the exports of domestic products compared to 65% a year ago period, crude 11% (18%), non-crude 4% (6%) and other commodities 15% (11%).
In April this year, Qatar's shipments to South Korea amounted to QR1.85bn, accounting for 16% of the total exports; China QR1.33bn (11%); India QR1.32bn (11%); Japan QR1.21bn (10%) and the UK QR0.67bn (6%).
On a yearly basis, Qatar's exports to Japan saw a huge 64.93% South Korea by 53.75%, India by 50.37%, the UK by 35.35% and China by 28.11%.
On a monthly basis, Qatar's exports to Japan plummeted 50.81%, India by 39.82%, China by 33.83% and South Korea by 22.27%; whereas those to the UK shot up 85.91%.
The country's re-exports amounted to QR0.77bn in April 2020, which shrank 15.3% year-on-year but showed a 7.3% growth month-on-month.
Qatar's total imports (valued at cost insurance and freight) amounted to QR7.48bn, which showed 17% and 10.1% decrease on a yearly and monthly basis respectively.
In April 2020, imports from China stood at QR1.47bn, which accounted for 20% of the total imports; the US QR1.02bn (14%); the UK QR0.7bn (9%), Germany QR0.41bn (6%) and Turkey QR0.31bn (4%).
On a yearly basis, Qatar's imports from the US shrank 45.91%, Turkey by 10.72% and Germany by 8.85%; whereas those from the UK and China shot up 63.23% and 51.75% respectively.
On a monthly basis, the country's imports from Germany shrank 39.14%, Turkey 34.61% and the US by 28.94%; while those from China and the UK soared 86.33% and 15.97% respectively.
In April 2020, imports of turbojets of thrust exceeding 25 knots were valued at QR0.4bn; parts of aeroplanes and helicopters at QR0.3bn; and motor cars and other motor vehicles for transport at QR0.3bn.
