A robust expansion, especially in gas and non-crude shipments, led Qatar's trade surplus to almost triple year-on-year to QR19.26bn in September, according to the official estimates.
The rebound in the country's merchandise trade surplus has been enabled by robust expansion in the shipments to the Asian countries during the period in review, said the figures released by the Planning and Statistics Authority.
Qatar's trade surplus was up 0.3% month-on-month in the review period, as imports grew faster than exports.
The total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to QR28.05bn, showing a stupendous 108.9% growth year-on-year and 2.8% month-on-month in the review period.
In September this year, Qatar's shipments to China amounted to QR4.24bn or 15.1% of the total exports of the country, followed by India QR3.58bn (12.8%), South Korea QR3.46bn (12.3%), Japan QR2.61bn (9.3%) and Singapore QR2.09bn (7.4%).
On a yearly basis, Qatar's exports to Singapore almost tripled and those to South Korea and China more than doubled. In the case of Japan and India, shipments from Doha witnessed 50% and 47.93% surge respectively in the review period.
On a monthly basis, Qatar's exports to Singapore and South Korea were seen growing 38.37% and 9.84% respectively; while those to Japan, China and India fell 25.64%, 8.62% and 3.5% in September 2021.
The exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons shot up 111.2% year-on-year to QR17.34bn, non-crude by 217.4% to QR2.68bn, crude by 88.9% to QR3.55bn and other commodities by 79.7% to QR3.62bn in the review period.
On a monthly basis, the exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons were up 3.7%, non-crude by 6.4% and other commodities by 14.4%; while those of crude were seen declining 12.1%.
Petroleum gases constituted 63.8% of the exports of domestic products in September 2021 compared to 63.4% a year ago period, crude 13.06% (14.52%), non-crude 9.86% (6.56%) and other commodities 13.32% (15.52%).
Qatar's total imports (valued at cost insurance and freight) amounted to QR8.79bn, which showed 25.7% and 8.5% increase year-on-year and month-on-month in September 2021.
The country's imports from China stood at QR1.6bn, which accounted for 18.2% of the total imports; followed by the US QR1.09bn (12.4%), India QR0.59bn (6.7%), the UK QR0.54bn (6.1%) and Germany QR0.45bn (5.1%).
On a yearly basis, Qatar's imports from the US, India, the UK, Germany and China had seen a 44.55%, 43.69%, 35%, 9.61% and 2.63% respectively in September this year.
On a monthly basis, the country's imports from the US and China increased 17.01% and 14.63%; even as those from the UK, Germany and India declined 34.66%, 17.44% and 6.92% respectively in the review period.
In September this year, the imports of motor cars and other motor vehicles amounted to QR0.3bn; parts of aeroplanes or helicopters QR0.19bn, telephone sets QR0.19bn and other non-specified commodities at QR8.12bn.
Related Story