Abu Dhabi’s external trade up 36.6 per cent

The overall trade volume was Dh8.59 billion in July this year against Dh6.289 billion for July 2007.

According to the statistics, imports during July 2008 reached Dh7.492 billion compared to Dh5.141 billion in the same period in 2007 registering an increase of 46 per cent.

Non-oil exports of Abu Dhabi reached to Dh578 million in July 2008 compared to Dh579 million in the same period in 2007.

Re-export activities witnessed a decrease last July plummeting to Dh518 million in July 2008 from Dh567 million for the same period last year. Saudi Arabia, Japan and Germany were the top three exporters to the emirate, while Qatar, Saudi Arabia and China were the top three destinations for Abu Dhabi's non-oil exports.

The top re-exports destinations were Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain. The department also announced that 57 per cent of imports were through sea ports while 32 per cent merchandise passed land borders and 11 per cent were through air freight.

Saeed Ahmed Al Muhairi, deputy director of Abu Dhabi Customs Administration, said growth in external trade in the summer month, has great significance because generally trade slows down these months. |

haseebhaider@khaleejtimes.com