Qatar’s non-oil exports declined 13 per cent in December compared to the same period of 2016, a report by the Qatar Chamber revealed yesterday.

According to the report, non-oil exports reached 1.3 billion Qatari riyals ($357 million) in December 2017 compared with 1.5 billion riyals ($412 million) in December 2016.

On a monthly basis, Qatari exports fell 27.6 per cent from 1.8 billion royals ($494 million) in November.

According to the report, the country’s total exports reached about QR18.1 billion ($4.97 billion) in 2017.

Qatar’s non-oil exports include aluminium, chemical fertilisers, polyethylene, plastic bags, detergents and industrial gases.

The gulf region was hit with tension when on last June Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar on the grounds of its support for terrorism.