Dubai, UAE: Dubai’s trade for auto parts and accessories for the first quarter of 2017 was valued at AED9.22 billion, with the total weight of imports, exports, and re-exports tipping the scales at 531,000 tonnes, according to the latest figures by Dubai Customs.
Approximately 231,000 tonnes of tyres, batteries, engine components and systems worth AED5.15 billion were imported into Dubai from January-March this year, while 300,000 tonnes of exports and re-exports for the Emirate’s auto aftermarket trade were valued at AED4.7 billion.
The Dubai auto-parts trade updates were announced yesterday (8 May) to an audience of manufacturers, suppliers, fleet operators, and regulators at the Spare Parts and Maintenance Conference on the side-lines of the Automechanika Dubai 2017 exhibition. The figures were provided by Nassim Al Mehairi, Senior Manager for Statistics and Studies Section at Dubai Customs.
Al Mehairi also gave an update on the total trade for Dubai’s auto aftermarket in 2016, which was valued at AED39 billion in 2016, comprising around three per cent of Dubai’s AED1.28 trillion worth non-oil foreign trade for the year.
Al Mehairi said around two million tonnes of auto parts, engine components, tyres, batteries and systems were traded in 2016. As was the case in 2015, Japan topped the list of Dubai’s trading partner countries in 2016, accounting for AED5.8 billion worth of imports and exports for the year – six per cent more than in 2015.
The USA, with AED3 billion worth of trade, swapped places with South Korea (AED2.93 billion) as Dubai’s second largest partner country in 2016. Germany, (AED2.8 billion) and China (AED2.4 billion), rounded out the top five trading of Dubai’s auto aftermarket trading partner countries.
Passenger vehicle tyres were the number one commodity traded in Dubai, with imports and exports valued at AED3.3 billion in 2016. This was followed by commercial vehicle tyres (AED2.1 billion), oil filters (AED1.08 billion), batteries (AED2 billion), and clutches (AED 1 billion).
“Dubai’s robust auto parts and accessories trade reinforce its position as the epicentre of regional automotive aftermarket trade,” said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Automechanika Dubai.
“The latest market updates from Dubai Customs are a regular feature of Automechanika Dubai, and we’re delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with Dubai Customs as we work together to grow one of the world’s most promising markets for the global aftermarket community.”
Automechanika Dubai 2017, which runs until tomorrow (9 May) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, is the Middle East and Africa’s largest trade exhibition for the automotive aftermarket and services industry.
It features 1,954 exhibitors from 57 countries in its 15th edition, covering the six core product groups of Parts & Components; Electronics & Systems; Repair & Maintenance; Tyres & Batteries; Accessories & Customizing; and Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning. The three-day event is expected to draw in more than 30,000 trade buyers from 135 countries.