Qatar’s merchandise trade balance surplus (the difference between total exports and imports) jumped in 2021 by 130.7% to QR215.6 billion ($59.2 billion), compared to QR93.4 billion ($25.6 billion) in 2020.
According to data published Tuesday by the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA), the total value of Qatari exports, including exports of goods of domestic origin and re-exports, amounted to QR317.4 billion (about $87 billion) last year, up QR129.9 billion ($35.6 billion), or 69.3%, compared to 2020, during which exports amounted to QR187.5 billion ($51.5 billion).
It issued a statement on the country's annual foreign merchandise trade statistics, attributing the increase in total exports in 2021 to higher exports of mineral fuels, lubricants and similar materials by QR114.5 billion (74.7%), chemicals and their non-mentioned products by QR11 billion (60.4%), manufactured goods, mainly classified by material, by QR2.6 billion (47.5%), crude material inedible, except fuel, by QR2 billion (662%), and machinery and transport equipment by QR1.6 billion (23.1%).
On the other hand, exports witnessed a decrease in miscellaneous manufactures by QR1.8 billion, or 63.1%.
The statement said that the value of Qatari imports in 2021 amounted to QR101.9 billion, up QR7.8 billion, or 8.3%, compared to 2020, when it recorded QR94 billion.
The main reason behind the increase in the total value of imports is the increase in imports of machinery and transport equipment by QR1.7 billion (4.5%) and miscellaneous manufactures by QR1.66 billion (10.3%), manufactured goods, mainly classified by material, by QR1.5 billion (10.2%), crude material inedible, except fuel, by QR1.3 billion (46.8%), and chemicals and their non-mentioned products by QR0.8 billion (8.6%).
Meanwhile, the main declines in food and live animals were recorded at a value of QR0.4 billion (3.5%).
Asian countries were Qatar's top export destinations in 2021, and leading countries of origin of its imports during the same year.
They accounted for 74.3% and 41.6%, respectively, followed by the European Union at 12.4% and 30.3%, respectively, then the GCC at 6.8% and 3.4%, respectively.
