DUBAI: Dubai has bolstered its good standing in the fruit and vegetable trade by fostering growth in the international trade of these items.
According to statistics issued by Dubai Customs, the emirate’s trade in these foodstuffs amounted to about AED 6.4b ($1.75b) in the first half of 2013, compared to AED 5.4b in the first half of 2012. This increase in trade, which reflects a 19% growth in value, coincides with the International Perishables Expo Middle East, currently held in Dubai.
The greatest share of the fruit and vegetable trade passes to local markets. The fruit-vegetable imports reached about AED 4.6b in the first half of 2013, compared to AED 3.9b in the first half of the preceding year; while exports and re-exports amounted to AED 1.8b, compared to AED 1.5b for the same period in the preceding year.
The USA has topped the list of Dubai’s trading partners in fruit imports by about a 25% share, amounting AED 794m; while India came in second with a 15% share, amounting to AED 477m, and followed by South Africa with a 12% share, amounting to AED 384m. The share of these three leading countries combined totalled 52% of total fruit imports –AED 1.7b.
Regarding fruit exports and re-exports, Iran leads the list with a 29% share, amounting to AED 422m; with Saudi Arabia coming next at a 14% share, amounting to AED 207m; and finally India, with an 11% share, amounting to AED 163m. The total share of these three countries combined was 55% -with a value of AED 792m.
