Certificates of Origin issued by DCCI up 18%

Certificates of Origin issued by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) for exports and re-exports increased by 18 per cent during the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2004.

This year's figure was Dh24 billion against Dh20 billion last year, according to an official financial report by the DCCI.

Despite the growth, the rate of increase was lower by about 10 percentage points than the annual average growth of 28 per cent that was recorded from 2000 to 2005.

The report said the highest growth rate of 37 per cent was recorded between 2003 and 2004.

Dubai's exports surpassed exports of the free zones by more than Dh2.3 billion in the first quarter of 2005.

Exports from the two areas in question had been equal in the first quarters of 2000 and 2001, with Dubai starting to lead by 2002.

Iran continued to be the largest export market of Dubai and the free zones, with 14,000 shipments valued at Dh8.3 billion sent to Iran in the first quarter of 2005, which made up 35 per cent of the total value of shipments during the quarter.

Although Saudi Arabia received around 20,000 shipments during the same quarter, the total value of goods was Dh4.2 billion, placing the Kingdom second to Iran in terms of value of goods shipped, according to the DCCI report.

Exports to India were valued at Dh678 million, while other destinations with at least one per cent of the share to the total value of shipments were either GCC or Arab countries.

Shipments sent to these destinations accounted for 88 per cent of the total number and 89 per cent of total value of shipments.

With less than a 10 per cent share in the annual value of exports, manufacturing firms have increased their exports to reach Dh1.8 billion in 2005 from an export value of Dh646 million in 2000.

Dubai trade

Export and re-export in first quarter: