Dubai's trade exchange with European Union countries amounted to Dh77.2 billion during H1, 2012

Dubai, Sept 10, 2012 (WAM) - The volume of Dubai's trade exchange with the European Union countries amounted to Dh77.2 billion during the first six months of 2012 compared with the Dh77 billion registered during the same period last year, according to Dubai Customs' latest statistical report on foreign trade. The value of Dubai's imports from the EU countries reached Dh61.2 billion during the January-June period this year, totalling nearly the same value registered during the first six months of last year, while its exports to the 27-member state union reached Dh3.7 billion during the first six months of 2012 compared with the Dh3.2 billion recorded during the same period in 2011. The value of re-exports to the EU states stood at Dh12.3billion during the first six months of this year compared with the Dh11.3 billion achieved during the same period last year, the report revealed. Dubai's trade exchange with EU states, especially with the eastern Europe countries, continued to achieve record growth rates such as with Estonia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Slovakia and Poland in which it saw a significant increase of 369%, 332%, 225%,77% and 35% respectively. Such indicators reflect the openness of the UAE economy to new markets worldwide in overall trade activity, including imports, exports and re-exports. Dubai's basic imports from the eastern Europe countries were furniture, petroleum oils, tobacco, telecommunication machinery and instruments, sun flower seeds and wires, while its major exports to these countries were polyethylene, cigarettes, raw aluminium, plastic, printing films, glassware, acoustic devices, ceramics, washing '&' bath basins. Dubai's major re-exported items to the eastern Europe states were auto-spare parts '&' accessories, engineering materials used in planning, telecommunication instrument '&' machines, automobiles and vehicles. – Emirates News Agency, WAM