UAE's non-oil trade reaches Dh927.7bn

The non-oil foreign trade sector in UAE surged to around Dh1 trillion during 2011, according to recent figures released today by the Federal Customs Authority (FCA).

With a year-on-year growth rate of 23%, the UAE's non-oil trade in 2011 increased by Dh173.4 billion, up from Dh754.3 billion in 2010 to Dh927.7 billion in 2011, FCA said.

FCA said the growth curve reflects a systematic monthly rate fluctuating between 20% and 23% manifesting an annual growth rate of 23% is neither "which is neither an accidental nor contingent result but the fruit of the successful policies followed by the government."

"Ten countries dominate around 61% of the total value of the imports of UAE. The total value of UAE imports was about Dh369.6bn in 2011. India comes on the top of these countries with an import volume of Dh105bn, followed by China with Dh55bn, USA with Dh52.3bn, Germany with Dh30.7bn and Japan with Dh30bn," FCA said in the press release.

"Ten countries receive around 69% of the UAE's exports which totalled Dh78.3bn. India came in the first place, followed by Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.

The total value of non-oil trade between the UAE and GCC amounted to Dh63.2bn in 2011, with Dh27.8bn worth of imports, Dh13.2bn worth of exports and Dh22.1bn of re-exports.

Saudi Arabia, in terms of non-oil trade with the UEA, topped the list of GCC States by Dh26.7bn, followed by Kuwait Dh11.3bn, Oman Dh8.8bn, Bahrain Dh8.7bn and Qatar with Dh7.7bn.

"The UAE's total foreign trade with Arab countries in terms of value amounted to Dh116.4bn in 2011 with Dh54.6bn worth of imports, Dh21.9bn worth of exports and Dh40bn of re-exports."

Saudi Arabia topped the list of Arab states in terms of non-oil trade with the UAE in 2011, followed by Sudan, Iraq, Oman, Morocco, Kuwait , Bahrain, Libya, Egypt, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, Algeria, Syria, Mauritania, Somalia, Tunisia, Palestine, Djibouti and Comoros.

The preliminary statistical data of 2011 showed that gold ranked first among imports with a value of Dh99.9bn, followed by diamond with Dh59.3bn, cars with Dh28bn, ornaments and jewellery with Dh23.3bn, and telephone sets with Dh7.3bn, tractors accessories, private cars, coaches and vans with Dh7.2bn.

Gold, according to FCA, also came first among exports in 2011 with Dh62bn, followed by fire-fighting, guiding equipment and ships with Dh4.3bn, petroleum oils and other derivatives with Dh3.8bn, un-fabricated aluminum with Dh2.1bn and ornaments and jewellery with Dh2bn.

On the level of re-exports, diamond came first with a total value of Dh62.8bn, followed by ornaments and jewelry and related parts Dh18bn, cars Dh12.7bn and telephones sets Dh10.4bn.

The total trade volume of UAE free zones and markets in 2011 amounted to Dh15.8bn with Dh7.6bn worth of imports, Dh2.8bn worth of exports and Dh40bn of re-exports.

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