Qatar's role in the global supply chain seemed intact as its merchandise sector, amidst the Covid-19 challenges, saw a 6.6% month-on-month expansion in trade surplus to QR6.25bn this July, aided by export growth to China and Japan, according to the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA).
The country's merchandise trade surplus, however, witnessed a 52.3% year-on-year decline, the PSA figures show.
The Asian region accounted for more than 62% of Qatar's exports, while imports came from diversified geographies.
In July 2020, total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) were QR13.6bn, showing about 7% growth on a monthly basis; while it fell 39% on yearly basis.
On a monthly basis, the exports of crude soared 50.4% to QR2.32bn, non-crude by 13.2% to QR1.17bn, petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons by 5.4% to QR7.8bn and other commodities by 3.1% to QR1.75n.
The exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons shrank 41.9% year-on-year, non-crude by 41%, crude by 39.7% and other commodities by 27%.
Petroleum gases constitute 60% of the exports of domestic products compared to 62% a year-ago period, crude 18% (18%), non-crude 9% (9%) and other commodities 13% (11%).
In July this year, Qatar's shipments to China amounted to QR2.81bn, accounting for 21% of the total exports; Japan QR2.05bn (15%); India QR1.66bn (12%); South Korea QR1.24bn (9%); and Singapore QR0.68bn (5%).
On a monthly basis, Qatar's exports to China and Japan witnessed 39.04% and 13.16% growth respectively; while those to India, Singapore and South Korea declined 15.3%, 8.46% and 5.4% in the review period.
On a yearly basis, Qatar's exports to South Korea had seen a huge 54.95% plunge, Japan 53.37%, India 43.97%, Singapore 34.3% and China 15.07%.
The country's re-exports amounted to QR0.57bn in July 2020, which plummeted 46% on a monthly basis and 6.7% year-on-year.
Qatar's total imports (valued at cost insurance and freight) amounted to QR7.35bn, which showed a 7.1% jump month-on-month; even as it declined 19.5% on a yearly basis in the review period.
In July 2020, imports from the US stood at QR1.03bn, which accounted for 14% of the total imports; China QR0.99bn (14%), the UK QR0.64bn (9%), India QR0.42bn (6%) and Germany QR0.41bn (6%).
On a monthly basis, the country's imports from the UK more than doubled, those from India soared 14.64% and the US 3.96%; while those from Germany shrank 35.59% and China 15.47%.
On a yearly basis, Qatar's imports from Germany declined 35.28%, the US 30.08%, China 22.06%, the UK 16.32% and India 7.78%.
In July this year, imports of turbojets and turbojet propellers were valued at QR0.64bn, electrical appliances for line telephony at QR0.21bn, parts of aeroplanes or helicopters at QR0.2bn and other non-specified commodities at QR6.3bn.