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Dubai Chamber member exports record 13% growth in April over same period in 2009

Dubai, UAE: A recent study published by Dubai Chamber of Commerce & industry indicated that the total exports of 4,645 members during the month of April 2010 reached AED 16.8 bn, 13% higher than the same month figure in 2009. The study indicated also that when compared to previous months' total exports of AED 18.7 bn, the current value was 10% lower. Nonetheless, it was second only to the high value of AED 19 bn recorded in 2008 (Fig. 1)

The study conducted a comparison on the month-on-month growth of exports in March and April from 2001 to 2010, and it could be noted that in general, April exports posted declines or minimal growth following strong March performances. On the other hand, March exports had generally posted significant growth. With strong export performance in March 2010, the comparatively lower export performance in April was not surprising.

In accordance with WTO's rules on origin of goods crossing customs boundaries, shipments of goods are to be accompanied by Certificates of Origin (COOs), specifying the country/ies of origin of the goods. Dubai Chamber issues COOs to non-oil shipments of its members, either as export or as re-export. Total value of exports/re-exports generated from these COOs is equivalent to about 70% - 80% of total value of non-oil exports/re-exports reported by the Dubai Customs.

Exports to major destinations

The GCC remained to be the largest export destination of Dubai Chamber members, destination to about AED 8.1 bn exports, or 48% of total value during the month (Table 1). However, a contraction of 16% in the value from the previous months' AED 9.6 bn could be noted. Dubai Chamber members exports to Saudi Arabia contracted by 17% compared to March figures and that is AED 796 mn.

Among the GCC countries, exports to the Free Zones in UAE and Bahrain markets posted expansion of 7% and 13%, respectively, to respective values of AED 1.3 bn and AED 352 mn. The exports to Kuwait and Oman recorded AED 882 mn and AED 510 mn respectively.



Exports to major markets outside the GCC also declined, but at slower rate of 7%, leading to a total export total value of AED 7.4 bn for the month, from the previous month's AED 8.0 bn. Although Iran continued to be the largest export market for members outside the GCC, export value of AED 3.8 bn actually represented a decline of 10% from the previous months' AED 4.3%. This was despite the increase in the number of members exporting to the country to 982 and in the number of export shipments to around 4,500.

On the other hand, exports to India grew, tough minimally, from AED 537 mn to AED 557 mn, despite the decline in the number of exporters and number of shipments to the country.

Exports to the non-GCC countries in the top 20 destinations were as follow: Egypt AED 447 mn; Iraq AED 413 mn; Jordan AED 245 mn; Pakistan AED 198 mn; Algeria AED 157 mn; Sudan AED 125 mn; Libya, AED 398 mn; Syria AED 265 mn; Lebanon AED 210 mn; and Ethiopia AED 112 mn.

Exports of largest exporters slowed down

After leading the growth in March, the largest exporters (with export value of at least AED 100 mn during the month) slowed down considerably in April, for combined export value of AED 5.1 bn. The group also grew smaller to only 28, but the average number of market rose to 10.5.

Exporters with monthly export value of AED 50 - 100 mn increased to 42, and with it, their combined exports also rose to AED 2.8 bn.



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Established in 1965, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a non-profit public entity, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai by creating a favorable business environment, supporting the development of business, and by promoting Dubai as an international business hub

© Press Release 2010