Dubai non-oil trade surges 18%

Dubai non-oil direct trade increased by 18 per cent last year to Dh576 billion against Dh488 billion in 2009, according to statistics released by Dubai  Customs.

Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and the Director General of Dubai Customs, said the figures during last year indicate a tangible improvement in the domain of non-oil trading activities in Dubai, and forecast a future upcoming development in the domain of investment opportunities along with recovery of escalating pace of economy’s activities growth prospects in which trade is essentially considered a key component.

Ahmed learned that the facts declared by Dubai Customs showed record achievements in terms of exports and re-exports. Evidently, this ascertains vitality of Dubai strategic position as across point for regional and international activities.  

During the last year, Dubai direct exports with the external world surged to record Dh68 billion, an increase of 30 per cent compared to 2009 which reached Dh52 billion. This export indicator shows the high quality of the local products of UAE and their competitiveness in the external markets, and the increasing demand for them amongst traders and consumers in these markets. This besides, the customs facilitation processes served to the exporters have also attracted increasing numbers in this hub. 

Dubai export figures achieved during the last year were higher comparable to the last 5 years. Exports in 2006 reached more than Dh18 billion, and increased to reach Dh27 billion in 2007, and Dh43 billion in 2008.

Exports remarkably recovered last year after they witnessed a decrease in 2009. They crossed over Dh144 billion last year compared to Dh117 billion in the previous year.

 He attributed improved infrastructure and transport network for the growth of re-exports.

“Re-exports achieved last year have been the highest for the last 5 years. Maximally, the values recorded in 2008 more than Dh129 billion prior to the retreat in 2009 at nine per cent due to the international crunch and its reverberation to the international economies,” he added.

Dubai revenues of non-oil trade exchanges in the external markets record the biggest dividend. These values during the last year reached Dh364 billion with an increase of 14 per cent of revenues in 2009, valued at Dh318 billion.

 India maintained its position as the greatest trade partner with Dubai during the last year. The trade exchanges between the two partners hit Dh146 billion, or 25 per cent of the total trades and monopolized 18 per cent of Dubai total revenues, 40 per cent of the total exports and 36 per cent of the total re-export operations.

China secured the second rank amongst the greatest counties in respect of Dubai imports. Chinese merchandise constituted 12 per cent of Dubai total imports, while USA came third by 8 per cent of these total imports.

Switzerland comes second in the list of Dubai direct exports worldwide with 20 per cent of Dubai total exports, while Saudi Arabia took the third position with a share of 4 per cent of Dubai total exports.

As of re-exports, Iran ranked second within the list of top re-exporting countries by 17 per cent, followed by Iraq with 5 per cent.

Precious metals exports are the top dividend of Dubai external trades with values of Dh236 billion, or 41 per cent of total trade thus topping the list of imported, exported and re-exported goods.

Machines and tools are second to precious metals in the list; its values recorded Dh34 billion, or 9 per cent of Dubai total imports. Instruments and electricity apparatus are second with Dh31 billion, or 8.6 per cent of Dubai total imports.

 Plastic, rubber and rubber products were the second highest exported items in the list with Dh4 billion, or 5 per cent of total exports, while sugar and its products come next in the rank at Dh2 billion, or 3.6 per cent of Dubai total exports.

 As of re-exports, auto and spare-parts take the second place with a value of Dh14 billion or 10 per cent of total re-exports.  Heavy machines and equipment come third with Dh13 billion of total re-exports, or 9 per cent of total activities.   

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