Qatar’s real GDP expanded at a rapid pace in the first quarter of 2013 at 6.2 per cent year-on-year, maintaining the same momentum as in 2012, said a report by Qatar National Bank (QNB) Group.

The growth figures for the first quarter confirm the continued process of diversification of the Qatar economy away from its traditional role as a hydrocarbon exporter toward a manufacturing and services hub, stated the report, citing Qatar Statistics Authority data.

At the same time, the current account surplus peaked on robust export performance and inflation remained moderate, it added.

Qatar continues to enjoy a strong economy with the real GDP growth to accelerate during the remainder of 2013 (reaching 6.5 per cent for the full year) and into 2014 (6.8 per cent), supported by large infrastructure investments and associated population growth which will more than offset the strong headwinds from the global economy, according to the QNB report.

Manufacturing was the fastest growing sector (12.5 per cent), boosted by production from the new Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) facilities, it stated.

According to QNB, construction sector is booming, growing by 11.7 per cent (6.3 per cent in the first quarter alone) - an indicator that the rollout of Qatar’s infrastructure development program is gathering steam.

On the other hand, the oil and gas sector - still the largest component of real GDP at 42 per cent - was the lowest contributor to growth, expanding only at an annual rate of 0.8 per cent as maintenance downtime at LNG facilities and fluctuations in oil production in late 2012 affected the first quarter results.

The top Qatari bank pointed out that population growth continued to drive the strong performance in other sectors of the economy.

"Trade, Restaurants and Hotels grew 10.5 per cent in  the 12 months to March 2013, boosted by the influx of expatriates required to implement major infrastructure projects. Financial Services benefited from the booming economy, growing at an annual rate of 10.5 per cent (5.8 per cent in the first quarter alone)," said the report.

Government and Social Services, together with Electricity, Gas & Water, all grew in line with the additional demand from the growing population.

The actual figures for the first quarter are in line with QNB Group’s full-year forecasts of 6.5 per cent growth in 2013 and 6.8 per cent in 2014, as outlined in the 2013 Qatar Economic Insight report.

According to QNB, the acceleration in the economic activity is expected to be driven by large infrastructure projects that are being implemented in Qatar including the $35 billion metro and railway project for which contracts have recently been awarded.

Another leading indicator of higher activity comes from population growth, which reached 11.3 per cent in the twelve months to June 2013.

The key driver of growth will therefore continue to be the non-hydrocarbon sector at least until 2015, when the Barzan gas project is expected to start production.

This rapid expansion of the Qatar economy does not seem to be running into supply bottlenecks or asset bubbles, according to QNB Group.
Inflation has stabilized at a moderate level (3.5 per cent) in May 2013. Rents, which are nearly a third of the consumer price index, have recovered from their trough in June 2012, but the rate of rental increases has been slowing in recent months while non-rent inflation has fallen.
The latest data is in line with QNB Group’s forecast for 3.5 per cent inflation in 2013 as a whole, increasing slightly to 3.8 per cent in 2014.
Recently released balance of payments data also provide a further indication that the economy is strengthening.

The current account surplus rose to 38 per cent of GDP in the first quarter of 2013, boosted by strong export growth (11 per cent), said the  QNB report.

"We expect a small moderation in the current account surplus to 35 per cent of GDP for 2013 as a whole reflecting lower oil prices and a pickup in workers’ remittances," said the report.

According to QNB, the financial account deficit narrowed as outflows of investment slowed sharply from $16 billion in the first quarter of 2012 to $9 billion in the first quarter this year.

QNB Group expects the financial account deficit to narrow further as investment outflows will continue to moderate.

"With strong growth, stable inflation and high current account surpluses, Qatar’s economic outlook remains strong, said the country's top lender.

"Large fiscal and current account surpluses should provide Qatar with ample resources to invest in major infrastructure projects, pushing further the process of economic diversification into a manufacturing and services hub," it added.-TradeArabia News Service