The private sector export value amounted to QAR33 billion in 2022, representing a 25% growth on an annual basis compared to QAR26 billion in 2021 and a 118% growth compared to QAR15 billion in 2020, according to the quarterly report issued by Qatar Chamber recently.

The report showed that the total value of private sector exports during the fourth quarter of 2022 amounted to QAR7.01 billion, showing a decrease of  9% on an annual basis compared to the same period of the previous year. The decline was due to the decrease in the value of all models of certificate of origin, except for the GSP and the Unified GCC models, which showed an increase annually.

As for the GSP model, the exports through this model are estimated at QAR795 million, showing an increase of 159.5% on an annual basis.

Exports through the Unified GCC model, estimated at QAR1.4 billion, recorded an increase of 5.4% compared to QAR1.32 billion on an annual basis in the fourth quarter of 2021. On the other hand, exports through the Unified Arab model amounted to QAR145 million, showing a decrease of 46.7% on a yearly basis.

Similarly, exports through the General model amounted to QAR4.59 billion, a decrease of 19.4% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2021, amounting to QAR5.69 billion, and by 19.7% on a quarterly basis in the third quarter of 2022, amounting to QAR5,715.27 million.

Exports through the Singapore model amounted to QAR86.4 million, a decline of 8.9% on a year-on-year basis compared to QAR94.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Exports following the Agricultural and Livestock model amounted to QAR0.144 million.

Exports according to the type of goods

The Qatar Chamber report showed that only two commodities out of 10 commodities increased in the fourth quarter. Fuel exports showed a significant increase of 125.3% on a yearly basis compared to the same period of the previous year. Similarly, Steel exports showed a year-on-year increase of 15.4% compared to QAR248.4 million in  2021.

Petrochemical exports amounted to QAR59.4 million, recording a 73.7 year-on-year decrease compared to QAR225 million in the same period of the previous year. Industrial Gases exports amounted to QAR189.3 million, a decrease of 73% on a yearly basis, compared to its value during the same period of the previous year, which amounted to about QAR708 million. Aluminium exports also decreased by 14.7% on a year-on-year basis, reaching QR1.57 billion, compared to QAR1.84 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Essential and Industrial Oils exports amounted to QAR1.5 billion, with a year-on-year decrease, compared to the same period of the previous year. Chemical Fertilisers exports amounted to QAR666 million, also recording a decrease of 30.8% compared to its value in the same period of the previous year.

Chemical Substances exports decreased on a yearly basis by 51.4%, reaching a value of QAR145.3 million, compared to the same period last year which amounted to QAR339.2 million.

Lotrene exports amounted to QAR131.6 million, a decrease of 59.5% year-on-year compared to its value during the same period of the previous year. Paraffin exports amounted to QAR99.5 million, a decrease of 68% on a yearly basis, compared to its value during the same period of the previous year, which amounted to about QAR311 million.

The report said that these ten commodities exported by the private sector represented 96.6% of the total value of private sector exports, in accordance with the certificates of origin issued by the Qatar Chamber during the fourth quarter of 2022. This is equivalent to QAR6.8 billion or a 9.7% year-on-year decline compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.

Destinations as per economic blocs

As for economic blocs and groupings, the Asian countries (excluding the GCC and Arab countries) were at the top of economic blocs that received exports from the country’s private sector during the fourth quarter of 2022, amounting to QAR3.01 billion and a share of 42.9% of the total exports. This was followed by the European Union (EU) which received exports amounting to a total of QAR1.95 billion or a share of 27.9% of the total value.

In third place came the GCC states, with exports of QAR1.48 billion, representing 21.1% of the total value; followed by the US with QAR302.6 million or a share of 4.3%; and Arab countries (excluding the GCC) with exports amounting to QAR161.8 million, or a share of 2.3% of the total exports.

Other American Countries came in 6th place, which received 0.69% of the total exports, with a value of QAR48.49 million. They were followed by African Countries (excluding Arab countries) which received exports estimated at QAR43.7 million or a share of 0.62%, and Other European Countries with a value of QAR6.47 million or 0.09%. The group of Oceania received exports estimated at QAR3.69 million or a share of 0.05% of the total exports.

A total of 95 countries received Qatari exports in the fourth quarter of 2022 following the economic groupings mentioned above. The African group topped the list with 28 countries, followed by Asia with 18 countries, the EU with 15 countries, and the Arab countries (excluding the GCC) with 14 countries for each.

The American group came in next with seven countries, followed by other European countries with six countries, the GCC with five countries, and lastly, the USA and one country (Australia) in the Oceania grouping.

Private sector trade partners

The Netherlands was on top of the list for the countries of destination of private sector exports in the fourth quarter of 2022, with close to QAR1.39 billion or a share of 19.8% of the total exports. It was followed by Oman with almost QAR1.05 billion and a share of 15%, and India with about QAR976 million and a share of 13.9%.

  • The Netherlands (QAR1.39 billion)
  • Oman (QAR1.05 billion)
  • India (QAR976 million)
  • Turkey (QAR572.5 million)
  • China (QAR478 million)
  • Germany (QAR438.4million)
  • Bangladesh (QAR433.1 million)
  • USA (QAR302.6 million)
  • UAE (QAR207.5 million)
  • Singapore (QAR201.1 million

Together, these ten countries accounted for 86.3% of the country’s private sector exports in the fourth quarter of 2022, with a combined total value amounting to QAR6.05 billion.

Get a copy of the Quarterly Report here. 

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