UAE-India merchandise trade drops a fifth to Dh59bn

Merchandise trade between the UAE and India dropped nearly a fifth to $16.1 billion (Dh59 billion) during 2013-14 as compared to $20.1 billion (Dh73.76billion) as both imports and exports shrank.

According to World Trade Organisation figures, India’s merchandise exports to the UAE fell nearly 20 per cent to $9.7 billion during 2013-14 from $12.1 billion in the previous year while merchandise imports also dropped at the same rate to $6.4 billion (Dh23.5 billion) from $8 billion (Dh29.36 billion).

In 2013-14, India's main export markets were the EU28, followed by the US and the UAE. While India's main sources of imports were China, the EU28, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the global trading body said in its country report for India.

During 2013-14, the share of the United States and Africa as India's export destinations increased while that of EU28 and the UAE decreased.
As regards the origin of India's imports, although China and the EU28 are still major exporters to India, the share of Saudi Arabia has been increasing, WTO said.

WTO data showed that the share of India’s merchandise dropped form 13.5 per cent in 2010-11 to 9.7 per cent in 2013-14 while imports also fell from 8.9 per cent to 6.4 per cent.

In 2011-12, the UAE was India’s top merchandise export destination with 13.5 per cent market share.

Globally, the UAE’s merchandise exports last year reached $359 billion while imports grew by four per cent to $262 billion, WTO said, adding that it accounted for 1.4 per cent of the total world imports in the same year and the country ranked 19th.