Market Overview – Qatar

Consumer and economic profile

Qatar's population is 2.8 million (2020) with most (99.2%) residing in or around the capital Doha. Over 85% of the population is expatriate. Individuals aged 25-54 make up 70.6% of the population.

Qatar is a politically stable, rich country. Qatar is the world's leading exporter of liquefied natural gas and holds the third largest gas reserves in the world (estimated at 16%). Oil and gas are the country's main economic engines, driving high economic growth and booming construction spending, particularly as Qatar prepares to host the 2022 World Cup. Qatar has made significant gains in diversifying its economy away from its dependence on the energy sector to boost non-energy sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, and financial services.

Qatar's GDP is estimated to be US$147.8 billion (2020e), down 4.5% from 2019. Per capita income is US$62,088.

Production

Cultivation of food crops is difficult in Qatar due to extremely high temperatures, desert climate, acute lack of rain/water, and limited availability of fertile soil. However, Qatar has made great strides in increasing its local food production since the 2017 Gulf Rift, when the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt severed diplomatic and trade relations with the State of Qatar. The Rift completely halted all direct routes between these four countries and Qatar, impacting the movement of trade. Before the rift, Qatar imported about 80% of its food, primarily from the Middle East, including cereals, dairy, meat, fruits, and vegetables. Saudi Arabia was the principal supplier of poultry and dairy products, while Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria supplied most fruits and vegetables.

Crop and livestock production in Qatar

Fresh vegetables and dates represent Qatar's domestic crop production. Pumpkin production grew fastest between 2015 and 2019 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 71.1%, followed by cucumbers (48.9%), chillies and peppers (39.1%), and mellons (36.2%).

Sheep, goats, and camels are Qatar's most common domestic livestock animals, representing 96.9% of domestic livestock production, with cattle and chicken combined representing 3.1%.

Trade

Top agri-food and seafood imports from the world in 2019 were fresh lamb carcases, milled rice, live sheep, frozen fowl, and frozen fowl offal. Key source countries were India, Australia, Turkey, and the U.S. Canada was the thirtieth largest import source of agri-food and seafood products for Qatar, exporting Can$38.8 million with a 0.9% market share. Top imports from Canada were wheat and meslin, shelled peas, hay, and food preparations.

Qatar's processed food and beverage imports were valued at Can$3.0 billion in 2019. India, Australia, Brazil, the U.S., Turkey, and the EU were the largest sources of processed food, providing over 60% of the market. Canada's share was 0.3%. Processed food imports were constant from 2015 to 2019. The fastest growing exports in the last five years were processed milk, fresh lamb carcases, and processed cheese.

Retail sales

Packaged food sales increased by a CAGR of 5.6% between 2015 and 2019 with further increases of 6.8% forecasted to 2024. The best performing segment was confectionary, registering a CAGR of 10.0% from 2015 to 2019. This category includes chocolate and gum, as well as sugar confectionaries such as caramels and toffee, and hard candy. The major retail distribution channels for packaged food are supermarkets and hypermarkets.

For more information

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Resources

• GlobalData:
  • Segment Insights, 2021
• Global Trade Tracker, Import and export statistics – Qatar, 2021
• FAOSTAT Agricultural Production – Qatar, 2021
• US Department of Commerce, Qatar commercial guide 2020
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook – Qatar
• Societe General – Qatar Market, 2020

Market Overview – Qatar
Global Analysis Report

Prepared by: Kris Clipsham, International Market Research Analyst

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