Qatar’s imports surge Qatar's value of imports for the first half (H1) of this year showed a substantial increase of 27.3 percent over the corresponding period of last year on strong domestic demand, according to figures released yesterday by the Qatar Statistics Authority. The value of imports for H1 was QR49.465bn compared to the QR38.852bn of H1 2007. Japan was Qatar's leading source of imports with a value of QR5.189bn (10.49 percent of total imports), the US accounted for QR4.583bn (9.27 percent), Italy QR4.313bn (8.72 percent), Germany QR4.199bn (8.49 percent), China QR3.234bn (6.54 percent), the UAE QR3.017bn (6.1 percent), South Korea QR2.669bn (5.39 percent), Saudi Arabia at QR2.347bn (4.74 percent), the UK QR2.277bn (4.6 percent) and France with a value of QR1.839bn, a share of 3.72 percent of total imports. Imports originating from GCC countries in H1 this year were valued at QR6.609bn or 13.36 percent of total imports. Over a third (35.05 percent) of all imports originated from the EU and was valued at QR17.338bn. Imports for H1 originating from Asia but excluding Arab countries, was valued at QR16.989bn representing 34.35 percent of total imports. The Pen

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