Balance of trade · Qatar
Qatar Balance of Trade
The Qatar Balance of Trade shows the difference between the value of goods (and sometimes services) that Qatar sells abroad and what it buys from abroad, or the growth of exports and imports.
- Importance
- Low
Latest figures
The latest release for DEC, published on 6 February 2025, came in at QAR 18.4B.
| Released | For | Actual | Consensus | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Feb 2025 | DEC | QAR 18.4B | – | QAR16.7B |
Why it matters
Exports are a big part of demand for open economies (Germany, China, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands). A larger surplus means more foreign demand for the the local currency; strong imports signal domestic demand. China's figures are read as a gauge of world demand.
How it is calculated
Customs records the value of goods crossing the border; services come from surveys. The balance is exports minus imports, usually seasonally adjusted.
Trade balance = exports − importsWhat changes mean
- Look at exports and imports separately: a wider surplus from collapsing imports is a sign of weak domestic demand, not strength.
- Exchange-rate moves take months to affect trade volumes (the J-curve).
Higher than expected: A larger surplus (or smaller deficit) than expected tends to support the the local currency.
Lower than expected: A smaller surplus (or larger deficit) than expected tends to weigh on the the local currency.
A short history
Trade balances were the obsession of mercantilism in the 16th–18th centuries; David Hume's price-specie flow mechanism (1752) explained why surpluses tend to correct themselves.
Questions
What is the Qatar Balance of Trade?
The Qatar Balance of Trade shows the difference between the value of goods (and sometimes services) that Qatar sells abroad and what it buys from abroad, or the growth of exports and imports.
What was the latest Qatar Balance of Trade?
QAR 18.4B for DEC, published on 6 February 2025.
Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.