Qatar’s trade surplus increased by QR5.5bn or 44.5% to reach QR18bn year-on-year (y-o-y) in June 2018, and a 21.0% growth or QR3.1bn month-on-month (m-o-m), according to official figures.
The preliminary report on foreign trade statistics for June 2018, issued monthly by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics, noted that the total value of Qatari exports, including exports of local origin and re-exports, last month amounted to QR26.9bn, up 46.3% y-o-y, and 8.3% higher m-o-m.
The value of commodity imports in June 2018 stood QR8.9bn or 50.1% higher compared to June 2017, and decreased by 10.5% compared to May 2018.
Compared to June 2017, the value of exports of “other oil and hydrocarbon gases” (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc) increased to about QR15.6bn (31.0%). The value of “oil and crude oil mineral raw materials” exports rose to about QR5.1bn or 107.7%. The value of “oil and oils obtained from non-ferrous mineral raw materials” exports rose to about QR2.6bn or 160.6%.
In terms of exports by main destination countries, Japan was top country of destination for Qatar's exports in June 2018 at about QR4.7bn, representing 17.6% of the total value of Qatari exports, followed by South Korea (QR3.8bn or 14.2%) and Singapore (QR3.2bn or 11.8%).
In June 2018, the “cars designed to transport people” group topped the list of goods imports, which amounted to about QR0.3bn, an 11.7% decrease compared to June 2017.
This was followed by the “telephone electrical appliances (telephone or telegram)” group, including “network carriers and their parts,” which amounted to QR0.3bn or 46.2%, and “aircraft and aircraft parts” at QR0.2bn or a 6.6% decrease.
In terms of imports by main countries of origin, the US was the top country of origin for Qatar’s imports in June 2018 at about QR2.3bn or 26.0% of the total value of goods imports, followed by China with almost QR1.2bn or 13.6%, and India with QR0.5bn or 5.8%.