The Planning and Statistics Authority has released preliminary figures of the value of exports of domestic goods, re-exports and imports for September 2020. It showed that the foreign merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 6.4 billion almost, a decrease of about QR 6.4 billion or 49.7 percent compared to September 2019, and a decrease by nearly QR 0.5 billion or 7.0 percent compared to August 2020.
In September 2020, the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR13.4 billion, showing a decrease of 33.7 percent compared to September 2019, and decrease of 4.4 percent compared to August 2020.
On other hand, the imports of goods in September 2020 amounted to around QR7.0 billion, showing a decrease of 6.4 percent over September 2019. However, on a month on month (M-o-M) basis the imports decrease by 1.9 percent compared to August 2020.
The year on year (September 2020 to September 2019) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 8.2 billion approximately in September 2020, a decrease of 33.5 percent, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 1.9 billion nearly, decreased by 42.0 percent, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 0.8 billion, decreased by 54.7 percent.
In September 2020, India was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatars exports with close to QR 2.4 billion, a share of 18.0 percent of total exports, followed by China with almost QR 2.1 billion and a share of 15.4 percent, Japan with about QR 1.7 billion, a share of 12.9 percent.
The year on year (September 2020 to September 2019), the group of "Parts of Aero planes or Helicopters" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.22 billion, showing an decrease of 26.3 percent. In second place was " Turbojets, Turbo propellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof " with QR 0.21 billion, showing an decrease of 62.3 percent and in third place was "Motor cars & other motor vehicles for the transport of persons" with QR 0.20 billion, decrease of 29.1 percent.
In September 2020, China was the leading country of origin of Qatars imports with about QR 1.6 billion, a share of 22.3 percent of the imports, followed by United State of America with QR 0.7 billion almost, a share of 10.7 percent, and India with QR 0.4 billion, a share of 5.9 percent.