Qatar: Visió econòmica i política
Qatar's trade policy is essentially focused on creating a modern and liberal economy. This is reflected in its promotion of investment (both domestic and foreign), its trade diversification programs at the regional and international levels and membership in several organisations, such as the WTO. Trade represents 100% of the country's GDP (World Bank, latest data available). Mineral fuels, oils and distillation products represented over 87.2% of the country’s exports in 2022 (mainly natural gas, followed by crude and other oil products), while chemical products accounted for 6.1%. In terms of product category, machinery and transport equipment constituted the main import (35.2% of the total), ahead of miscellaneous manufactured articles (22%), manufactured goods (14%), and food and live animals (11.3% - data PSA).
In 2022, Asia emerged as the primary destination for Qatar's exports, constituting 66.2% of total exports, and the leading source of Qatar's imports, comprising 39.5% of total imports. Following Asia, the European Union accounted for 22.7% of exports and 27.1% of imports, while the GCC represented 6.8% of exports and 5.4% of imports (data PSA). On a country level, the main export partners were China (15.9%), India (11.6%), Japan (10.9%), and South Korea (9.6%). Qatar’s leading suppliers were China (16.2%), the United States (14.6%), India (6.2%) Italy (5.7%), and Germany (5%). Qatar has very few trade barriers and relatively low customs duties. It has signed a number of free trade agreements, both bilaterally and via the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Benefiting from strong oil and gas revenues, Qatar's merchandise trade balance is structurally positive. In 2022, the country’s exports increased by 50%, to reach USD 130.9 billion, on the back of high hydrocarbon prices. On the other hand, imports totalled USD 33.4 billion (+19.6%). As many countries in the region, Qatar remains a net importer of services: imports reached USD 41 billion in 2022, while exports amounted to USD 30.7 billion. The trade surplus was estimated at 36.9% of GDP by the World Bank (the third highest worldwide). According to data from the Qatar Planning and Statistics Authority, in the first three quarters of 2023, the country exported QAR 270.9 billion worth of goods against QAR 84 billion in imports.
Foreign Trade Values | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 29,178 | 25,835 | 27,985 | 33,479 | 30,928 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 72,935 | 51,504 | 87,203 | 130,964 | 97,365 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 35,416 | 34,698 | 34,340 | 41,000 | 41,199 |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 19,111 | 19,429 | 18,346 | 30,728 | 30,173 |
Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 91.8 | 90.0 | 90.0 | 93.0 | n/a |
Trade Balance (million USD) | 50,981 | 41,581 | 27,137 | 60,339 | 97,445 |
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) | 36,750 | 25,276 | 11,869 | 44,345 | 87,173 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 4.6 | 1.9 | -8.9 | n/a | n/a |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | -1.2 | -2.2 | -1.5 | n/a | n/a |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 35.9 | 37.9 | 40.9 | 34.1 | n/a |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 55.9 | 52.2 | 49.1 | 58.9 | n/a |
Source: World Bank ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Forecasts | 2024 | 2025 (e) | 2026 (e) | 2027 (e) | 2028 (e) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) | -6.8 | 12.8 | 10.5 | 14.1 | 4.5 |
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 1.5 | 1.9 | 5.8 | 7.9 | 3.5 |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
Member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The country is also part of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area(GAFTA), a pact of the Arab League entered into force in January 2005 which aims to form an Arabic free trade area.
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2023 |
China | 19.7% |
South Korea | 12.6% |
India | 12.0% |
Japan | 8.0% |
Singapore | 7.2% |
See More Countries | 40.4% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2023 |
United States | 15.9% |
China | 14.5% |
Italy | 6.4% |
India | 5.6% |
Germany | 5.6% |
See More Countries | 51.9% |
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.
30.7 bn USD of services exported in 2022 | |
62.71% | |
23.63% | |
5.98% | |
3.71% | |
3.02% | |
0.95% |
41.0 bn USD of services imported in 2022 | |
33.01% | |
29.90% | |
10.33% | |
8.65% | |
7.03% | |
6.53% | |
4.55% |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
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Actualitzacions: May 2024