Qatar enjoyed growing trade surplus for the last several years with the main revenues for the country coming from exports of oil and gas. Buoyant oil prices throughout last year resulted in the exports of the country increase by a robust 39.6% in 2004 to QR68bn, which was about 65.7% of the country’s GDP for the year. Import bill of the country increased by 24.1% in 2004 to QR19.7bn, leaving the merchandise trade surplus at QR48.3bn, which registered a staggering growth of 47% over the preceding year.
