UAE's non-oil trade rises to Dh320 billion in Jan-April 

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) UAE non-oil foreign trade maintained positive growth rates in the first four months of this year rose by Dh17.3 billion to Dh320.3 billion compared to Dh303 billion in the period of comparison.

The FCA initial statistics showed that exports increased by 10 per cent from early January to late April this year, raising the UAE non-oil exports by Dh18.4 billion from Dh190.6 billion in 2011 to Dh209 billion in the same period of this year.

"The exports grew within the above period by 33 per cent from Dh35.1 billion to Dh46.9 billion, while re-exports hit Dh64.4 billion in this period", said the FCA.

In terms of weight, the UAE total foreign trade hit about 31.8 million tons in 2012 January- April, including 17.5 million tonnes in imports, 11.2 million tonnes in exports and 3.1 million tonnes in re-exports. The daily average weight of consignments (exported, imported and re-exported) processed by different customs outlets hit about 132 thousand tonnes per day (17 thousand tonnes per hour).

"In April alone, the UAE foreign trade hit about Dh81.8 billion, including Dh52.7 billion in imports, Dh12.5 billion in exports and Dh16.6 billion in re-exports", the FCA said. Asia-Pacific region, retained its first place among the UAE top non-oil foreign trade partners with a total trade of Dh145.6 billion with the UAE - 46 per cent of the total trade in the first four months.

Europe came in the second place with Dh80.2 billion (25 per cent) of the total trade followed by Mena with Dh43.4 billion (14 per cent), America and the Caribbean with Dh28 billion (nine per cent), Western and Central Africa region with Dh9.2 billion (2.9 per cent) and COMESA with Dh8.3 billion (2.6 per cent). The total of UAE non-oil foreign trade with the Gulf Council Countries (GCC) hit Dh26 billion in the first four months of this year.

This total consisted of Dh9.3 billion in imports, Dh7 billion in exports and Dh9.7 billion in re-exports. Saudi Arabia (KSA), kept its top place among the UAE trade partners from the GCC. The UAE total trade with the KSA reached Dh9.9 billion.

Oman came in the second place with Dh6.4 billion followed by, Kuwait with Dh3.5 billion, Qatar with Dh3.2 billion and finally Bahrain with Dh3 billion. The UAE total foreign trade with Arab countries hit about Dh 44.5 billion in 2012. This total is divided into Dh 19.5 billion in imports; Dh10 billion in exports and Dh15 billion in re-exports.

The initial statistics in this period showed that gold came at the top of the imported goods with Dh35.7 billion, followed by diamond with Dh15 billion, cars with Dh12.5 billion and jewellery with Dh10 billion. Gold, was the top among exported goods with Dh24.4 billion, followed by polyethylene and propylene polymers in crude forms with Dh4.7 billion, jewels and pieces of jewelry with Dh1.5 billion and petroleum and other oils with Dh1.1 billion.

Diamond, came first in re-exports in 2012 with Dh15.5 billion, followed by jewels and pieces of jewellery with Dh6 billion, cars with Dh5.1 billion and mobile phones with Dh4.3 billion. The total trade of markets and free zones hit Dh5.1 billion for this period.