The total value of Abu Dhabi's non-oil foreign trade amounted to about AED124 billion ($33.7 billion) during 1st half of 2022, compared to AED110 billion and 313 million, with a growth rate of 12%, recorded in the same period of 2020, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Friday.
Exports during the first six months of this year increased to 26%, at a value of AED49 billion and 479 million, compared to AED39 billion and 193 million during the same period in 2021, it said.
Re-export activities increased to 6% at a value of AED23 billion and 43 million, compared to AED21 billion and 689 million recorded during the last year, while the Exports in the UAE increased to 4%, recording a total value of about AED51 billion and 475 million, compared to AED49 billion and 432 million last year.
The value of the trade-in commodities from normal metals and their products increased to AED24 billion and 516 million, with a growth rate of 22%, compared to AED20 billion and 112 million in 2021, WAM said.
The trade-in sound and image machinery and broadcasting equipment and their accessories recorded growth during this period with 23%, compared to AED17 billion and 903 million recorded last year. The trade-in pearls, gemstones, precious metals and their products have increased to 40% at a value of AED17 billion and 245 million recorded last year.
According to WAM, Saudi Arabia had the largest total value of shares traded compared to the countries, where the trade increased to AED28 billion and 636 million, with a growth rate of 3% compared to AED27 billion and 906 million recorded during the same period in 2021. It was followed by Switzerland with a total value of AED9 billion and 530 million, with a rate of A growth of 260% compared to last year.
The United States followed Switzerland with AED9 billion and 330 million, a growth rate of 21%, then China with AED5 billion and 959 million with a growth rate of 9%, and Kuwait with AED5 billion and 870 million with a growth rate of 13% compared to last year.
Director-General, General Administration of Customs, Abu Dhabi Customs, Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori said: "Abu Dhabi Customs continues to walk steadily towards achieving its vision to be a World-Class Customs Authority, leading change effort to enhance security, facilitate trade and provide distinguished services, constantly prompting to invest in advanced technologies that rely on digital technologies and artificial intelligence, which effectively contributes to saving time and effort for customers, and supports their choice of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to be a destination for their operations."
He added that Abu Dhabi Customs has succeeded to develop proactive strategic services that contributed effectively to develop the customs work system through the land, sea and air ports and facilitate customs inspections.
As for Ahmed Mahmoud Fikri, Director-General of Statistics Centre-Abu Dhabi, he said that the Centre looks forward to developing an advanced statistical system that consolidates continuous cooperation with its partners from producers and users of statistical data to provide continuous support to policymakers in the Emirate.