(MENAFN- Gulf Times) A faster double-digit decline in imports than exports led Qatar report a modest 2% month-on-month gain in trade surplus to QR8.85bn in September this year, according to official figures.
Exports to China and India were on the rise; while imports from other major countries were on the decline, helping the month-on-month growth in trade surplus, which however fell 26% year-on-year, said the figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS).
Japan, South Korea, India, China and Singapore were among the largest export markets of Qatar; while its imports largely came from the US, Germany, China, the UAE and Japan in September 2016.
The country";s total exports (valued free-on-board) fell 5% month-on-month to QR17.13bn in September this year; while year-on-year; it declined more than 18%.
The country";s total exports of domestic products declined about 4% month-on-month to QR16.73bn in September 2016; while it recorded more than 15% slump year-on-year.
Qatar";s exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons rose more than 1% month-on-month to QR11.4bn; while those of petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (crude) tanked 22% to QR2.45bn, non-crude by 9% to QR0.77bn and other commodities by 2% to QR2.12bn.
Against September 2015 levels, Qatar";s exports of petroleum gases, non-crude, crude and other commodities shrank 14%, 13%, 4% and 33% respectively.
Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons constituted 68.14% of total exports of domestic products in September 2016 compared to 66.67% a year-ago period; crude 14.64% (12.95%), non-crude 4.6% (4.45%) and other commodities 12.67% (15.98%).
On exports destinations, Japan accounted for 19% of total exports from Qatar in September this year; followed by South Korea (15%), India (14%), China (7%) and Singapore (6%).
Qatar";s exports to China grew the maximum of 15% month-on-month to QR1.25bn and India by 7% to QR2.35bn; while those to Japan fell 5% to QR3.22bn, South Korea by 4% to QR2.59bn and Singapore by about 1% to QR1.01bn.
Against September 2015 levels, Doha";s exports to major countries were on the slide with those to Singapore plummeting 29%, followed by South Korea (23%), Japan (13%), China (7%) and India (4%).
The country";s re-exports had decelerated 40% month-on-month to QR0.4bn in September 2016; on year-on-year, it registered 68% plunge.
Total imports (valued at cost insurance and freight) plummeted about 12% month-on-month to QR8.29bn in September 2016 mainly on faster decline in shipments from China, the UAE and Germany. The country";s total imports had fallen 9% year-on-year.
The US accounted for 13% of Qatar";s imports in September this year, followed by Germany (11%), China (10%), the UAE (9%) and Japan (7%).
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