Qatar's Gas Exports Rise Substantially

Natural gas exports from Qatar saw substantial increase in 2012, Qatari newspaper The Peninsula reported citing latest report from International Monetary Fund.

“While crude oil export volumes in 2012 are to be at about the same level as in 2007, the region’s natural gas exporters have risen substantially, most notably in Qatar,” the IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook for the Middle East and Central Asia said.

On aggregate for Middle East North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan region (MENAP) hydrocarbon exporters, natural gas export volumes comprise about the one-fifth of hydrocarbon exports, but exceed crude oil export volumes in Qatar, Algeria and Yemen.

“Despite a decline in gas prices in some markets, MENAP hydrocarbon exporters have benefited from selling gas at long-term contracted values indexed to the price of crude oil,” the report further added.