QATAR’S foreign merchandise trade balance has showed a surplus of QR107 billion in the first quarter of 2013, according to QSA’s preliminary report of exports and imports for the first quarter of 2013.
This is an increase of QR8 billion, 7.9 percent higher, compared to the corresponding quarter of 2012.
Qatar’s exports recorded an increase of 7.2 percent over the first quarter of 2012 and amounted to QR129.8 billion. Qatar’s imports increased by 3.9 percent over the first quarter of 2012 and amounted to QR22.8 billion.
Qatar’s exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons increased by 9.4 percent, whilst that of exports of petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) dropped by 13.5 percent. The main countries of destination were Japan, South Korea and China. Passenger motor cars, aircraft spare parts and telecommunication equipment were on top of the list of products that were imported by Qatar in the first quarter of 2013.
The main countries of origin were United States of America with a share of 11 percent, and China and the United Arab Emirates, with each 9.2 percent.
The imports of passenger motor cars increased by 1.2 percent in the first quarter of 2013, compared with the imports in the corresponding quarter last year.
Imports of aircraft spare parts increased by a whopping 71.1 percent compared with the imports in the first quarter of 2012. Imports of mobile and landline telephone sets increased by 16.7 percent in the first quarter of 2013, compared with the same period last year.
Imports from the UAE registered the maximum hike in the first quarter of 2013 with an increase of 24.9 percent, compared with the same period in 2012. Imports from the USA, Germany and China increased by 15.3 percent, 15.7 percent and 3.3 percent respectively. Imports from Japan fell by 0.9 percent in the first quarter, compared with the same period last year.
