The official figures released in parallel with Gulfood 2016; the world's largest annual food and hospitality trade show, showed a four per cent hike in Dubai foodstuff foreign trade volumes, from Dh66 billion in the first nine months of 2014 to Dh68.6 billion in the same period of 2015.
Dubai Customs has effectively contributed to the growth of food trade by providing quality customs facilities for this sector and ensuring speedy customs clearance of all its shipments, in order to cater to the food needs of the community without unnecessary delays.
The official figures released in parallel with Gulfood 2016; the world's largest annual food and hospitality trade show, showed a four per cent hike in Dubai foodstuff foreign trade volumes, from Dh66 billion in the first nine months of 2014 to Dh68.6 billion in the same period of 2015.
During the same period, imports recorded a surplus of two per cent, standing at Dh43.7 billion compared to a close Dh43 billion in the previous year.
Exports also rose slightly to Dh10.2 billion, up by three per cent from the Dh9.9 billion recorded through Q3 2014, while re-exports saw a 13 per cent increase, from Dh12.9 billion to Dh14.6 billion.
Of the commodities traded, rice was the most accounted for in Dubai's foodstuff imports at Dh2.5 billion, followed closely by sugar at Dh2.1 billion and dairy at Dh1.7 billion.
However with regard to exports, sugar was the most exported of all foodstuff at Dh1.3 billion, followed by chocolate and its products at Dh872 million and milk products at Dh586 million. Nuts, food ingredients and rice were the top re-exported food products, standing at Dh1.1 billion, Dh999 million and Dh911 million respectively.
"Dubai Customs looks forward to reinforcing Dubai's foothold on the global trading landscape by further diversifying the texture of national economy, in line with the nationwide move towards securing the UAE for a post-oil future," stated Ahmad Abdul Salam Kazim, Strategy and Corporate Excellence Director at Dubai Customs.
Congratulation!