Machinery and Equipment Price Index in Qatar rises in first quarter of 2026

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Qatar’s Machinery and Equipment Price Index (MEPI) increased by 0.82 percent in Q1 2026 from the previous quarter, driven primarily by higher prices in office machinery, general-purpose machinery, and musical instruments. This modest rise reflects ongoing shifts in capital goods costs, which are crucial for assessing the economic outlook and industrial activity in the country.

Qatar’s Machinery and Equipment Price Index (MEPI) rose to 99.99 points in the first quarter of 2026, marking an increase of 0.82 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 and a 0.19 percent rise year-on-year, according to data released by the National Planning Council (NPC).

The MEPI, calculated using 2018 as the base year, is designed to track the average change in selling prices of machinery and equipment classified as capital goods. The index monitors a predefined basket of goods categorized into nine main groups, following the Central Product Classification version 2 system, which ranges from Level 1 to Level 5 categories. The relative weights for each group are determined based on import values, with data collection and dissemination adhering to international standards.

Quarter-on-quarter analysis from Q4 2025 to Q1 2026 showed price increases in five categories. "Office, accounting and computing machinery" experienced the largest rise at 4.73 percent, followed by "General purpose machinery" at 3.08 percent, "Musical instruments" at 2.75 percent, "Metal tools and tools" at 1.84 percent, and "Radio, television and communication equipment" at 0.77 percent. Conversely, decreases were observed in "Special-purpose machines" by 1.45 percent, "Transport equipment" by 0.69 percent, "Medical appliances, precision and optical instruments" by 0.52 percent, and "Machinery and electrical appliances" by 0.12 percent.

On an annual basis, comparing Q1 2026 to Q1 2025, the overall 0.19 percent increase was mainly driven by rising prices in "Office, accounting and computing machinery" (4.35 percent), "Machinery and electrical appliances" (3.94 percent), "Metal tools and tools" (3.39 percent), "Musical instruments" (1.95 percent), and "General purpose machinery" (0.49 percent). However, declines were noted in "Special-purpose machines" by 4.77 percent, "Medical appliances, precision and optical instruments" by 1.73 percent, "Radio, television and communication equipment" by 1.07 percent, and "Transport equipment" by 0.83 percent.

The MEPI is one of several economic indicators produced by the NPC to assist in analyzing Qatar’s economic conditions, reflecting trends in the pricing of key capital goods that are vital for various industrial and commercial sectors.