Qatar Non-Oil Exports Reach QR1.3 Billion in July
Source: Qatar Tribune
The total value of Qatar’s non-oil exports in July increased by 67% to reach nearly QR 1.3 billion, compared to QR 793 million in June, Qatar Chamber said Wednesday.
According to the Chamber’s monthly report on foreign trade for the private sector, the total exports since the beginning of the year amounted to QR 8.9 billion.
The report revealed that statistical data for non-oil exports in July registered a remarkable increase. The value of non-oil exports returned to pre-siege levels in April when it registered QR 1.3 billion
The total number of certificates of origin issued in July reached 2571 certificates of origin for exports received by 59 countries around the world, including 2370 general model certificates, 104 Arab certificates of origin, 94 GCC certificates (industrial) and 20 certificates of preference.
According to the report, the Sultanate of Oman continued to top the list of countries receiving the Qatari non-oil exports after the siege, with total exports worth about QR 422 million, which represents about 31% of total exports, an increase of about 42% compared to June when it reached about QR 297 million.
Commenting on the report, Director-General of Qatar Chamber Saleh Hamad Al Sharqi underlined that the return of the non-oil exports level to its previous value before the siege proves the success of Qatar’s private sector in overcoming the consequences of the siege, adding that last month witnessed an increase in the number of countries receiving the Qatari non-oil exports to about 60 countries, which is the result of strong external trade relations that have enabled exports to find new and diversified destinations and open up new markets to Qatari exports.
Al Sharqi added that the Sultanate of Oman topped the countries receiving Qatari non-oil exports for the second month in a row, which represents a real translation of the strong economic ties between the two countries, noting that Qatar and Oman have joint memorandums of understanding and investment partnerships in all sectors.
Recently, a delegation of Qatari businessmen visited the Sultanate and learned about the investment opportunities available there. During the visit, several agreements and deals were signed between Qatari companies and Omani companies, which contributes to the promotion of trade exchange between the two countries.
According to Qatar Chamber report, Qatar’s non-oil exports went to 59 countries in July compared to 56 in the previous month. There was a decrease in the Arab countries (12 countries) compared to June, after excluding Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from the list completely. The non-oil exports also went to 15 European countries, including Turkey, 15 Asian countries, excluding Arab countries, and 14 African countries with the exception of Arab countries, and two North American countries, in addition to the emergence of the Republic of Nicaragua in the list.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands came in second place with total exports amounting to QR 301.08 million, representing 22.7% of the total value of exports. In third place came Turkey with total exports amounting to QR 106.57 million, 8% of the total exports. Germany came in the fourth place with QR 74.15 million (5.6%) and China in the fifth place with exports amounting to QR 54.47 million (4.1%). Then came Singapore, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Morocco, with varying values and percentages.
The report revealed the rise of the European countries including Turkey to come in the first place in terms of blocks and economic groups receiving the Qatari exports in July 2017, where the markets received 38.53% of Qatar’s total non-oil exports during the month with a total exports of QR 511.7 million.
The GCC countries came in the second place (mostly to the Sultanate of Oman) with exports amounting to QR 436.9 million, representing 32.9% of total exports. The Asian Group, excluding Arab countries, ranked third with QR 285.33 million, 21.49% of the total exports during the month.
The Arab group, except the GCC countries, ranked in the fourth place to received about 5.48% of the Qatari non-oil exports at a value of QR 72.72) million, followed by the African countries, except the Arab countries, North America and South America.
Aluminum, in various forms (alloys, cutters, molds and slabs) topped the exported goods with QR 335.8 million, representing 25.3% of the total value of non-oil exports during July 2017, followed by gas oils with a value of QR 313.5 million, 23.6% of the total value of exports.
Base oil exports came in the third place with QR 181.4 million, %13.7 of total value of exports, followed by Helium (%91.2), iron, steel, iron bars and nets, paraffin, chemicals, chemical fertilizers, polyethylene, plastic bags, and others.
