Qatar’s non-oil exports jumped 33.7 percent to QR11.5 billion in the first half of 2018, according to Qatar Chamber’s (QC) monthly report on the foreign trade of the private sector.
The non-oil exports had reached QR8.6 billion in the first half of 2017.
Meanwhile, the total value of non-oil exports in June 2018 leaped 108 percent to QR1.65 billion compared to QR794 million in June 2017, the QC report said.
The QC, in its report which was prepared based on certificates of origin issued by the Chamber’s Research & Studies Department and Member Affairs Department, pointed out that around 2,599 certificates of origin were issued in June 2018.
According to the report, Oman was Qatar’s top non-oil exports destination in June, accounting for QR581.2 million or 35.1 percent of the total exports in the month. Holland at QR236.6 million (14.3 percent) and Turkey at QR155.8 million (9.4 percent) were second and third respectively.
Germany came in the fourth place at QR99.3 million (6 percent) and Hong Kong was fifth at QR88 million (5.3 percent). They were followed by Singapore, US, China, India, and Indonesia.
June’s statistics show that Qatar’s exports reached 56 destinations including 10 Arab and GCC countries, 12 European countries including Turkey, 14 Asian countries (excluding Arab countries), 18 African countries (excluding Arab countries), and two North and South American countries.
The report shows that QR587.3 million (35.5 percent) worth of non-oil exports were received by the GCC.
European countries including Turkey came in the second place with QR500 million (30.2 percent) worth of the total non-oil exports.
Asian countries came third receiving QR406.5 million (24.6 percent) of the total value. Arab countries excluding GCC countries were fourth with exports touching QR75 million (4.5 percent) of the total value. They were followed by North
America, African countries excluding Arab countries, and South America.
QC said the total value of non-oil exports during the first six months of 2018 were as follows: January (QR2.11 billion), February (QR2.16 billion), March (QR1.35 billion), April (QR2.27 billion), May (QR1.90 billion), and June (QR1.65 billion).
The total value in the first half of 2018 hit QR11.5 billion.
QC Director General Saleh bin Hamad al Sharqi said.”After one year of the unjust siege, the monthly data and statistics of our exports, which indicate the growing growth, confirm that the exports were not affected by the blockade.”
Sharqi pointed to the expansion of the list of markets receiving non-oil exports in terms of number and volume of their imports, which was another proof of the quality of the products that constitute the strength of the exports.
He hailed the trading partners of Qatar for the growth in non-oil exports and the Qatari private sector companies which were the main driver behind achieving this success and development in the value, size and quality of the exports.
Sharqi said the growth of non-oil exports during the first half of this year compared to the first half of the previous year was up by 34 percent, which proves that the Qatari private sector was not affected by the blockade, but has achieved
growth in exports during the siege compared to the pre-siege period.
Tag: Qatar , Local News , Business , Oil