Dubai: Dubai’s trade in foodstuffs recorded a 14 per cent surge in the first nine months of 2014, further promoting the emirate’s status as a global hub for foodstuff trading in the region. The figures were released by Dubai Customs on Monday in parallel with Gulfood 2015, a regional exhibition currently under way in Dubai.
The sector’s booming growth is due to Dubai’s ongoing economic and demographic development. The trend is also driven by a favourable business environment with exceptional logistic services and facilities, time- and cost- saving customs procedures, as well as efficient quality control measures on all Dubai’s traded food commodities.
Dubai Customs reported a 14 per cent increase in Dubai’s foodstuff trading in the period from January-September 2014 to Dh66 billion, compared to Dh58.2 billion during the same period in 2013.
This upswing was highlighted by a rise in imports from Dh37.6 billion to Dh43 billion, with re-exports going from Dh11 billion to Dh13 billion, and exports increasing from Dh9.6 billion to Dh10 billion.
“Dubai Customs looks forward to reinforcing Dubai’s foothold on the global landscape of foodstuffs trading industry, and has effectively contributed to the growth of food business by providing quality customs facilities for this sector, and ensuring speedy customs clearance of all its shipments, in order to cater to the food needs of the community without unnecessary delays,” stated Ahmad Abdul Salam Kazim, Strategy and Corporate Excellence Director at Dubai Customs.
Kazim further affirmed Dubai Customs’ commitment to developing innovative services to meet the demands of a growing local foodstuff sector in a way that ensures easy and timely access of basic goods to local consumers and surrounding markets in keeping with the highest health and safety standards.
