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The twenty imports Qatar is best placed to replace.

Qatar imported USD 30bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 10bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 4.1bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
220products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
57products Qatar already exports well
455product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Qatar already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Qatar would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Qatar does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Copper: wire, of refined copper, of which the maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeds 6mmHS 740811

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 100%, 3 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCopper: refined, unwrought, n.e.c. in item no. 7403.1 (exports USD 131m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well25

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 401m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 2 per cent (3); United Arab Emirates supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 401mdown 8% on 2022
  2. 2

    Iron or steel (excluding cast iron): line pipe of a kind used for oil or gas pipelines (not seamless), longitudinally...HS 730511

    Comes fromBrazil 71%, 10 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron or steel: cast articles, excluding grinding balls and similar... (exports USD 22m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 26m
    Countries that export it well17

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 191m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); Brazil supplies 71 per cent (2).

    USD 191mup 27% on 2022
  3. 3

    Turbines: gas-turbines (excluding turbo-jets and turbo-propellers), of a power not exceeding 5000kWHS 841181

    Comes fromUnited States 74%, 10 source countries
    Nearest export strengthValves: pressure reducing, for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or... (exports USD 34m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 5 more lines in the heading, USD 2.9bn
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 135m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 5 per cent (3); United States supplies 74 per cent (2).

    USD 135mup 91% on 2022
  4. 4

    Floating or submersible drilling or production platformsHS 890520

    Comes fromIndonesia 100%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTugs and pusher craft (exports USD 312m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well14

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 129m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); Indonesia supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 129mup 207% on 2022
  5. 5

    Wrist-watches: (not electrically operated), automatic winding, whether or not incorporating a stop-watch facility...HS 910121

    Comes fromSwitzerland 91%, 21 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 7m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 52m
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 125m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); Switzerland supplies 91 per cent (2).

    USD 125mdown 21% on 2022
  6. 6

    Vessels: other, including lifeboats other than rowing boats, other than warshipsHS 890690

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 94%, 15 source countries
    Nearest export strengthTugs and pusher craft (exports USD 312m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 298k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 66m
    Countries that export it well20

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 103m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); Saudi Arabia supplies 94 per cent (2).

    USD 103mup 386% on 2022
  7. 7

    Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3000ccHS 870324

    Comes fromJapan 64%, 30 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 4m; 8 more lines in the heading, USD 1.8bn
    Countries that export it well14

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 906m, top 0 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 18 per cent (2); Japan supplies 64 per cent (2).

    USD 906mup 63% on 2022
  8. 8

    Aeroplanes and other aircraft, except unmanned: of an unladen weight exceeding 2000kg but not exceeding 15,000kgHS 880230

    Comes fromUnited Kingdom 99%, 3 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 57m
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 463m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2); United Kingdom supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 463mdown 49% on 2022
  9. 9

    Boring or sinking machinery: parts for boring or sinking machinery of subheading 8430.41 or 8430.49HS 843143

    Comes fromUnited States 45%, 50 source countries
    Nearest export strengthValves: pressure reducing, for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or... (exports USD 34m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2m; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 144m
    Countries that export it well26

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 140m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 2 per cent (3); United States supplies 45 per cent (1).

    USD 140mup 63% on 2022
  10. 10

    Pebbles, gravel, broken or crushed stone: of a kind commonly used for concrete aggregates, for road metalling or for...HS 251710

    Comes fromOman 51%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSulphur of all kinds: other than sublimed, precipitated and... (exports USD 593m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 120m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3); Oman supplies 51 per cent (1).

    USD 120mdown 44% on 2022
  11. 11

    Engines: for aircraft, spark-ignition reciprocating or rotary internal combustion piston enginesHS 840710

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 64%, 6 source countries
    Nearest export strengthValves: pressure reducing, for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or... (exports USD 34m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well25

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 66m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 5 per cent (3); Saudi Arabia supplies 64 per cent (2).

    USD 66mup 7% on 2022
  12. 12

    Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, bridges and bridge-sectionsHS 730810

    Comes fromIndonesia 73%, 15 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron or steel: cast articles, excluding grinding balls and similar... (exports USD 22m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 676k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 359m
    Countries that export it well26

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 55m, top 19 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3); Indonesia supplies 73 per cent (2).

    USD 55mfrom USD 6m in 2022
  13. 13

    Silicon: containing by weight less than 99.99% of siliconHS 280469

    Comes fromChina 97%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGases, rare: other than argon (exports USD 1.0bn)
    Exports of this lineUSD 190k
    Countries that export it well17

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 45m, top 23 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3); China supplies 97 per cent (2).

    USD 45mdown 46% on 2022
  14. 14

    Aluminium oxide: other than artificial corundumHS 281820

    Comes fromAustralia 79%, 17 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGases, rare: other than argon (exports USD 1.0bn)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well10

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 447m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 33 per cent (1); Australia supplies 79 per cent (2).

    USD 447mup 21% on 2022
  15. 15

    Machinery: for moving, levelling, scraping, grading, excavating earth minerals or ores: not self propelled n.e.c in...HS 843069

    Comes fromIndonesia 99%, 15 source countries
    Nearest export strengthValves: pressure reducing, for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or... (exports USD 34m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 334m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 44 per cent (1); Indonesia supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 334mfrom USD 2m in 2022
  16. 16

    Aircraft and spacecraft: under-carriages and parts thereofHS 880720

    Comes fromUnited States 55%, 21 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 309k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 726m
    Countries that export it well5

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 197m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 17 per cent (2); United States supplies 55 per cent (1).

    USD 197mup 172% on 2022
  17. 17

    TankersHS 890120

    Comes fromIndia 100%, 1 source country
    Nearest export strengthTugs and pusher craft (exports USD 312m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 28m
    Countries that export it well20

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 58m, top 17 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 18 per cent (2); India supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 58ma year
  18. 18

    Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199

    Comes fromIndia 58%, 27 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well44

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 57m, top 18 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 2 per cent (3); India supplies 58 per cent (1).

    USD 57mup 33% on 2022
  19. 19

    Buildings: prefabricated, not of woodHS 940690

    Comes fromChina 82%, 25 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 40k
    Countries that export it well38

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 44m, top 24 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2); China supplies 82 per cent (2).

    USD 44mdown 49% on 2022
  20. 20

    Tissue, towel, napkin stock or similar: for household or sanitary use, cellulose, wadding webs of cellulose fibres, in...HS 480300

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 45%, 25 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone in the same chapter
    Exports of this lineUSD 43k
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 44m, top 24 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Qatar's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); United Arab Emirates supplies 45 per cent (1).

    USD 44mup 24% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Qatar already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Travel sets: for personal toilet, sewing, shoe or clothes cleaning imports USD 20m, exports USD 4m, top source China 94%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 455 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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