In its quarterly report issued recently, Qatar Chamber said that private sector exports during the second quarter of 2023 amounted to QAR6.1 billion, representing a 30% decrease year-on-year compared to the same period last year.
According to the type of certificate of origin issued by Qatar Chamber, private sector exports in the first half of 2023 reached QAR15.2 billion, recording a nine per cent decline compared to the same period in 2022.
Exports according to Type of Commodities
The Qatar Chamber report showed that exports of Essential and Industrial Oils in the first half of 2023 amounted to QAR8.1 billion, with a year-on-year increase of 146%, compared to the same period from the previous year (QAR3.3 billion).
On the other hand, the value of exports for Fuel commodities amounted to QAR3.1 billion, showing a decrease of 17% on a yearly basis compared to its value during the same period of the previous year – QAR3.7 billion.
Similarly, the value of exports of Aluminium commodities in the first half of 2023 declined by 67% on a year-on-year basis, reaching QAR1.43 billion, compared to QAR4.35 billion in the first half of 2022.
The newsletter noted that the Industrial Gases commodity in the first half of 2023 amounted to QAR453 million, an increase of 40% on a yearly basis, compared to its value during the same period from the previous year.
The value of exports of the Steel commodity in the first half of 2023 amounted to QAR327 million, showing a year-on-year decrease of 37%, from QAR516 million in 2022.
The value of Petrochemical exports in the first half of 2023 amounted to QAR324 million, recording a 70-year-on-year increase compared to the same period in 2022.
Chemical Substances exports amounted to QAR290.5 million, a decrease of 47% compared to its value in the same period of the previous year, which amounted to QAR550.1 million.
According to the report, Paraffin exports amounted to QAR206.5 million, a decrease of 47% on a yearly basis.
Similarly, the value of exports of Lotrene commodity amounted to QAR127 million, a decrease of 83% year-on-year compared to its value during the same period in 2022.
Exports of Chemical Fertilisers also decreased on a yearly basis by 90%, amounting to QAR63 million compared to QAR1.39 million in the first half of 2022.
These ten commodities exported by the private sector represent 94.9% of the total value of private sector exports, according to the certificates of origin issued by Qatar Chamber for the first half of 2023, equivalent to QAR14.42 billion, a seven per cent year-on-year decrease compared to the same period in 2022.
Destinations as per Economic Blocs
The 22-Asian countries bloc (excluding the GCC and Arab countries) remains at the top of economic blocs that received exports from the private sector in the first half of 2023 – QAR9.05 billion – a share of 56.60% of the total exports. This was followed by the GCC states (five states) which received exports with a total value of QAR2.48 billion – a share of 18.81% of the total value.
In third place were the EU states (18 states), with exports totalling QAR2.48 billion, representing 16.32% of the total value, followed by the Arab countries (14 countries) – excluding Arab countries under the GCC states. The bloc received QAR571.9 million equivalent to a share of 3.77%. The USA exports amounted to QAR112.4 million, or a share of 0.74% of the total exports.
The grouping of African Countries (33 countries) excluding Arab countries came in 6th place, with 0.52% of the total exports valued at QAR78.5 million. They were followed by other European countries (eight countries) which received exports estimated at QAR22 million or a share of 0.14% and by Other American Countries (12 countries) with QAR8.6 million or a a value of 0.06%.
The Oceania countries (two countries) came in last, with exports amounting to QAR5.63 million, equivalent to 0.04% of the total exports.
A total of 115 countries were reached by private-sector exports in the first half of 2023.
Private Sector Trade Partners
China was at the top of the countries of destination for private sector exports, with a share of 30.8% of the total exports, valued at close to QAR4.68 million. India followed with almost QAR2.86 million and a share of 18.8%; and Oman with QAR1.85 million or a share of 12.15%.
The rest of Qatar’s private-sector trade partners are listed in the order below:
- The Netherlands – QAR1.42 million (9.4%
- Singapore – QAR609 million (4%)
- Germany – QAR594.7 million (3.9%)
- UAE – QAR513.2 million (3.38%)
- Kuwait – QAR288.4 million (1.9%)
- Turkey – QAR276 million (1.8%)
- Hong Kong – QAR185 million (1.22%)
Together, these ten countries accounted for 87.5% of the private sector exports, equivalent to a value of QAR13.29 billion.
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