Qatar trade balance falls by 47% in May

Qatar’s merchandise trade balance surplus last May declined by 46.8 percent year-on-year to 18.2 billion Qatari riyals according to data issued by the state’s Planning and Statistics Authority.

Qatar’s exports during the same month fell 35.3 percent to 27.8 billion riyals as crude oil and liquefied natural gas prices slumped. The Gulf state’s merchandise imports rose 9.5 percent to 9.6 billion riyals, supported by increased domestic demand.