Dubai: Sanctions imposed by three other Gulf states and Egypt slashed Qatar’s imports by more than a third in June while exports excluding its vital shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) were also disrupted, official data showed on Sunday.
Imports shrank 40.0 per cent year-on-year and 37.9 per cent from the previous month to 5.87 billion riyals (Dh5.9 billion, $1.61 billion), Ministry of Development, Planning and Statistics figures showed.
In May, imports fell just 0.3 per cent year on year.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism, which it denies.
The closure of the Saudi border, over which much of Qatar’s imports of food, dairy products and construction materials came, as well as a halt to shipping services from the UAE, delayed shipments for some days as Doha arranged other routes through centres such as Oman.
Helium hit
June exports of petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons climbed 15.8 per cent from a year earlier to 11.88 billion riyals. They rose 21.6 per cent in May.
However, exports of petroleum oils including crude oil fell 22.4 per cent after rising 8.3 per cent in May. Non-petroleum exports fell 15.1 per cent.
Among exports hit by the sanctions were helium, which used to be shipped overland across the Saudi border.
Officials say alternative ways to export helium have now been found.
