QNA
Doha
Qatar’s quarterly Import Unit Value Index (IMUVI) for the second quarter of 2024 rose to 108.93 points, marking a 0.85 percent increase compared to the first quarter of 2024.
However, when compared year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to the second quarter of 2023 (Q2-2023), the index showed a slight decline of 0.09 percent.
The IMUVI, released by the National Planning Council, measures the changes in the prices of imported goods. It is divided into ten primary groups classified based on the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC).
An analysis of the quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q) comparison between Q2-2024 and Q1-2024 revealed that six key groups experienced price increases. The largest increase was seen in “Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in SITC,” which surged by 12.13 percent.
This was followed by a rise in the index for “Crude materials, inedible, except fuels” by 8.14 percent, “Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes” by 4.26 percent, “Miscellaneous manufactured articles” by 3.85 percent, “Food and live animals” by 2.34 percent, and “Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material” by 2.12 percent.
On the other hand, four groups registered decreases in the Q2-2024 index. “Machinery and transport equipment” fell by 2.03 percent, “Mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials” dropped by 1.42 percent, “Beverages and Tobacco” declined by 0.75%, and “Chemicals and related products” saw a slight decrease of 0.74 percent.
In a year-on-year comparison of Q2-2024 with Q2-2023, the general index saw a decrease of 0.09 percent. This decline was driven primarily by reductions in five groups: “Animal and vegetable oils, fats, and waxes” fell by 7.21 percent, “Mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials” dropped by 5.1 percent, “Food and live animals” decreased by 1.79 percent, “Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material” declined by 1.65 percent.
