28 July 2015
DOHA: Qatar's trade surplus in June, 2015 declined to QR14.9bn ($4.09bn), registering a decline of QR16.4bn ($4.5bn), or  52.5 percent, compared to June 2014, data released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics show.

 However, the trade balances of goods decreased by QR0.4bn, or 2.4 percent, when compared to May 2015.

The total exports of goods in June 2015, (including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports) amounted to QR24.1bn ($6.62bn), showing a decrease of 40.4 percent compared to June 2014. Whereas the total exports of goods in June decreased by 2.9 percent compared to May 2015.

On the other hand, the imports of goods in June 2015 amounted to QR9.2bn ($2.53bn), showing an increase of 1.6 percent over June 2014. However, on a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis the imports decreased by 3.6 percent.

The year-on-year (y-o-y) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, condensates, propane, butane, etc.) reaching QR14.5bn in June 2015, i.e. a decrease of 44.6 percent, Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (crude) reaching QR3.2bn 57.5 percent, and Petroleum oils & oils from bituminous minerals (not crude) reaching QR1.3bn 46.6 percent.

In June 2015, Japan was at the top of the countries of destination of Qatar's exports with QR4.5bn, a share of 18.5 percent of total exports, followed by South Korea with QR4.3bn 17.8 percent and India with QR2.3bn 9.6 percent.

During June 2015, Parts of aircraft and helicopters etc., were at the top of the imported group of commodities, with QR0.9bn, showing an increase of 97.3 percent compared to June 2014. In second place were Motor cars and other passenger vehicles. with QR800m, showing an increase of 26.1 percent, and in third place Electrical apparatus for line telephony/telegraphy, telephone sets etc. with QR200m, decreased by 3.9 percent.

In June 2015, United States of America was the leading country of origin of Qatar's imports with QR1.1bn, a share of 12.3 percent of the imports, followed by China with QR1bn 10.9 percent, and United Arab Emirates with QR900m 9.6 percent.

© The Peninsula 2015