Qatar's merchandise trade balance, which represents the difference between total exports and imports, showed a surplus of QR 22 billion in April 2023, a decrease of about QR 12.2 billion or 35.6% compared to April 2022, and increase by nearly QR 0.7 billion or 3.5% compared to March 2023.

In its statement issued Sunday, the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the total exports of goods (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to around QR 30.7 billion, showing a decrease of 29.4% compared to April 2022, and decrease of 0.5% compared to March 2023.

On other hand, the imports of goods in April 2023 amounted to around QR 8.7 billion, showing a decrease of 6.3% compared to April 2022. and decrease of 9.3% compared to March 2023.

The year on year (April 2023 vs. April 2022) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR 18.6 billion (approximately) in April 2023, i.e. decrease of 33.2%, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR 5.0 billion nearly, decrease by 25.8%, and decrease in the Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching 2.6 billion by 29.0%.

In April 2023, China was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatars exports with close to QR 5.6 billion, a share of 18.3% of total exports, followed by South Korea with almost QR 5.1 billion and a share of 16.6%, and India with about QR 3.5 billion, a share of 11.4%.

The year on year (April 2023 vs. April 2022), the group of "Motor Cars & Other Motor Vehicles for the Transport of Persons" was at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR 0.4 billion, showing decrease of 1.5%. In second place was " Turbojets, Turbopropellers & Other Gas Turbines; Parts Thereof" with QR 0.36 billion, decrease of 47.5%. In the third place was "Electrical Apparatus for Line Telephony/Telegraphy, Telephone Sets Etc.; Parts Thereof" with QR 0.2 billion, showing decrease of 21.4%.

In April 2023, United State of America was the leading country of origin of Qatars imports with about QR 1.3 billion, a share of 14.7% of the imports, followed by China with QR 1.1 billion almost, a share of 13.0%, and India with QR 0.5 billion, a share of 6.1%.

Source: Qatar News Agency