DOHA: Qatar’s trade surplus in February 2015 declined to QR18.2bn (about $5bn), witnessing a sharp decline of QR16.5bn ($4.53bn), or 47.5 percent, compared to the same month last year. The value of hydrocarbons exports were registered at QR17.6bn ($4.83bn), down 41.5 percent year-on-year.
However, the trade balance was marginally up by 0.3 percent, or QR50m compared to January 2015, according to data released by the Ministry of Development, Planning and Statistics yesterday.
Exports were worth QR27.5bn ($7.55bn), down 36 percent year-on-year and down 1.3 percent on a monthly basis. Imports were up 12.2 percent to QR9.3bn ($2.55bn) in February, down 4.3 percent compared to the previous month.
Japan was the top trading partner for February with a volume worth QR7.7bn, or 28 percent of the total. It was followed by South Korea and India who represented 15.7 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively. The import of cars was up 33.6 percent to QR800m in February. The Peninsula
