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France reinforces its presence in Gulfood

In recent years, the Middle East has become one of the most important food and drink markets in the world. Residents of the UAE and other Gulf states spend up to $9.5 billion annually on foods consumed outside of their homes.

Food consumption in this region of the world represents 10 per cent of foodstuffs traded internationally.

But despite the increase of the local production, GCC countries continue to resort to massive imports to cover the increasing population's needs.

France is the world's third largest exporter of agribusiness products. With nearly 39 billion euro turnover, the French agribusiness ranks just behind the US and the Netherlands.

French exports to the Middle East are mainly made up of poultry, dairy products and apples. France is the 4th food provider of the Middle East and the 1st European one.

Between 2000 and 2004, French exports have witnessed a regular decrease in the Middle East.

This was mainly due to the ban on French beef and also to the strong Euro vs. the dollar which did not play the favour of European imports.

In 2005, French food product exports to the middle East have increased by 14.7 per cent in value. According to French customs' official data, KSA and the UAE rank respectively as France's 23rd and 29th world clients (in value) for agribusiness product exports.

They have respectively increased their French food imports by 44 per cent and 30.8 per cent in 2005.Some emerging countries have recorded an astonishing increase of their French food imports such as Qatar with 86.1 per cent.

This can be mainly explained by the fantastic global economic growth that these countries are experiencing at the moment.