Dubai’s exports and re-exports to South Africa at Dh1.5bn

Total exports and re-exports from Dubai to South Africa in 2011 were valued at Dh1.5 billion ($408 million), with food exports and re-exports  from Dubai contributing AED105 million, while AED50 million came from free zone companies in the emirate, said Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency.

Chocolates, fruit juices, pasta, wheat flour, rice and edible oils account for the majority of food exports and re-exports to South Africa from Dubai. The Dubai Exports research showed that the South African Development Community SADC as a whole offers additional export opportunities in a variety of foods including meat, sugar, confectionary and beverages, as their imports have grown at a rate higher than the global average.

Earlier this year Dubai Exports announced its Trade Missions to East and Africa. In the case of Southern Africa Dubai exports plans to participate in the premier food and beverage exhibition namely Africa Big 7 in July taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from July 15 to 17.

“The South African Development Community represents a strategic growth market within Africa. Together the 15 member states in SADC have a population of over 257 million and they import foods worth nearly $11 billion,” said Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Exports.

Besides South Africa, SADC has Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe as members. Among them, South Africa and Angola, the top two food importers, together imported US$6 billion worth of foods in 2010.

“Exporters in Dubai are best placed to successfully target the developing economies in SADC with fast and reliable supply of processed foods. Dubai is already well-connected to the Republic of South Africa, which offers a gateway to the rest of SADC, with its efficient transport infrastructure,” added Al Awadi.

Al Awadi commented that Dubai, with its proximity to Africa and competitive business environment, is well placed as a trade hub for SADC to the regional market. The SADC states have seen exports of their chief commodities like fruits and nuts as well as fats and oils growing at an annual average of 25-30 per cent and exceeding $2 billion, while GCC imports of the same stuff reached $4 billion in 2010, growing 40 per cent annually.

“Dubai is expanding its logistics, transport and manufacturing facilities to facilitate movement of goods and flow of trade. The Dubai World Central, for instance, will add a futuristic multi-modal transport component to the region’s supply chain network. Given such developments the economic momentum in our respective regions, Dubai and SADC has excellent opportunities to build high-value, sustainable trade partnerships,” said Al Awadi.

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