DOHA: Qatar’s trade balance showed a surplus of QR33.2bn, an increase of QR0.3bn or 0.8 percent in July 2014 on year-on-year basis. In July, the total exports of goods (including exports of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to QR41.5bn, showing an increase of 0.6 percent compared to the corresponding month of 2013.
On the other hand, the imports of goods in July amounted to QR 8.3bn, a decrease of 0.3 percent over the value recorded in the same month last year, according to preliminary figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS).
The year-on-year rise in total exports was mainly due to higher exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR26bn in July, ie an increase of 1.2 percent compared to July 2013, and Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR2.5bn (4.3 percent); however, the increase was partially offset by the drop in exports of Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) to reach QR7bn (13.8 percent).
In July 2014, the major countries of destination for Qatar’s exports were Japan with QR 10.9bn, a share of 26.2 percent of total exports, South Korea with QR 6.6bn(15.9 percent), and India with QR 5.1bn (12.3 percent).
During July 2014, Motor cars & other passenger vehicles was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.7bn, showing an increase of 2.1 percent compared to July 2013.
In second and third place were imports of Electrical Apparatus For Line Telephony/Telegraphy, telephone sets etc; with QR0.3bn, increased by 16.4 percent, and Aircraft Spare Parts with QR0.2bn, increased by 6.0 percent.
In July 2014, UAE was the leading country of origin of Qatar’s imports with QR1.1bn, a share of 12.9 percent of the imports, followed by China with QR0.7bn (8.7 percent), and USA with QR 0.7bn (8.2 percent).
The Peninsula
