DOHA: Despite the ongoing unjust blockade against Qatar imposed by Arab quartet, the combined value of country’s non-oil exports in the first-half of this year (H1, 2018) reached QR11.5bn registering a sharp increase of 33.7 percent compared to QR8.6bn witnessed during the corresponding period (H1, 2017).

The total value of non-oil exports for the month of June reached QR1.65bn recording a remarkable increase of 108 percent compared to QR794m in June 2017, according to a report released by Qatar Chamber (QC) on the foreign trade of the private sector.

The report which was prepared based on certificates of origin issued by the Chamber’s Research and Studies Department and Member Affairs Department, pointed out about 2,599 certificates of origin were issued in June 2018.

Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Director General of Qatar Chamber, said that after one year of the unjust siege imposed on Qatar, the monthly data and statistics of our exports, which indicate the growing growth, confirm that the exports were not affected by the blockade.

Al Sharqi noted the expansion of the list of markets receiving non-oil exports in terms of number and volume of their imports, which is another proof of the quality of the products that constitute the strength of these exports.

He thanked all the trading partners of Qatar for the level of success achieved in terms of the exports of non-oil products and the Qatari private sector companies which are the main driver in achieving this success and development in the value, size and quality of these exports.

Oman was Qatar’s top non-oil exports destination in June, accounting for QR581.2m, or 35.1 percent, of the total exports in the month.

It was followed by The Netherlands with about QR236.6m, or 14.3 percent, and Turkey with QR155.8m, or 9.4 percent.

Germany stood at the fourth place with about QR99.3m, or 6 percent, followed by Hong Kong with QR88m, or 5.3 percent. It is followed by Singapore, US, China, India, and Indonesia.

June’s data show that Qatar’s exports reached to 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), 2 countries of North and South Americas.

The report showed that about 35.5 percent of non-oil exports were received by the GCC with QR587.3m.

The countries in the European region, including Turkey, came in the second place. The region imported goods worth QR500m accounting for 30.2 percent of the total non-oil exports.

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