During 2001, the perfumes and eau de colognes or toilet water imported to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah were double the re-export of perfumes from these emirates, according to external trade statistics recently released by the respective Customs Departments.

While the total imported perfumes to these emirates amounted to Dh750.8 million, the re-exports amounted to Dh369.6 million.

Among the three emirates, only Dubai and Sharjah exported perfumes and toilet water. These exports amounted to Dh123.3 million in 2001 and were six times less than the aforesaid imported value of perfumes.

Dubai's external trade in perfumes: The value of Dubai's imported perfumes and toilet water increased by 14.5 per cent to reach Dh564.7 million in 2001 compared with 2000 figures and its consumption of perfumes has been increasing at an average annual growth rate of 7.6 per cent according to recently released statistics by Dubai Customs.

The statistics reveal that Dubai's top partner of imported perfumes was France with a share of 37 per cent of the total imported value of perfumes and that among the GCC countries Saudi Arabia is its main re-export and import partner.

Dubai's import of perfumes has swung in terms of value during the past three years, showing a decrease of 8.5 per cent in 2000 from the Dh538.9 million imports of 1999 and the noted increase in 2001.

While Dubai's export of perfumes and toilet water increased almost 100 per cent to reach Dh121.8 million, its re-exports decreased by 13 per cent from the previous year's figures to reach Dh248.8 million in 2001. It is important to note that these exports comprise perfumes manufactured locally.

Further, the statistics indicate that perfumes for domestic consumption amounted to Dh315.9 million, which is about 55.9 per cent of Dubai's imports of perfumes. It is also noted that the average domestic consumption of perfumes during 1999-2000 amounted to Dh258.4 million. The perfumes consumed internally had a higher value than those exported or re-exported.

The figures also reveal that the other top five partners from which Dubai imported perfumes during 2001 were the U.S. with a 10 per cent share of the total value of imported perfumes, Italy ranked third with a share of 9 per cent, both the UK and the organisations operating in Jebel Ali Free Zone were fourth with a share of seven per cent each, and Switzerland ranked fifth with a 5 per cent share.

In contrast, the top five countries from which Dubai imported perfumes and toilet water were France, the UK, the organisations operating in Jebel Ali Free Zone, India and the U.S.
It is important to note that the perfumes and toilet water imported from the other GCC countries amounted to Dh 14.1 million.

Saudi Arabia had the largest share of this amount with 41.54 per cent, Bahrain 36.12 per cent, Qatar 10.58 per cent, Kuwait 11.73 per cent and Oman 0.04 per cent.

Moreover, the U.S. was Dubai's main partner in terms of the value of re-exported perfumes during 2001. It had a share of 26 per cent of the total value of re-exports, Japan ranked second with 15 per cent, Singapore ranked third at 14 per cent, followed by Iran and Netherlands at 9 per cent each and Saudi Arabia at 5 per cent.

Dubai's total re-exported perfumes to the GCC countries amounted to Dh 17.5 million in 2001. Saudi Arabia – Dubai's major partner – had 76.9 per cent of this amount, Qatar had a share of 13.94 per cent, Kuwait 7.4 per cent, Bahrain 1.63 per cent and Oman 0.12 per cent.

The top five countries to which Dubai exported perfumes and toilet water in terms of value during 2001 were Belgium with a share of 24 per cent; the U.S., 17 per cent; Saudi Arabia, 11 per cent; Russia, 8 per cent; and Germany, 6 per cent.

In addition, the total amount of perfumes exported to the GCC countries in 2001 was Dh 14.5 million. Most of the export revenue - 92.25 per cent - came from Saudi Arabia, 4.23 per cent from Bahrain, 2.55 per cent from Qatar, 0.89 per cent from Kuwait and 0.08 per cent from Oman.

Abu Dhabi's external trade in perfumes: Abu Dhabi's import of perfumes decreased constantly throughout the three-year period from 1999-2000 at an average annual rate of 12.9 per cent, and Tunisia was its major re-export partner during 2001 with a share of 70 per cent of its total re-exported perfumes, according to the external trade statistics released recently by the Customs Department.

The figures also show that Abu Dhabi's imports decreased by 13 per cent compared with 2000 figures to reach Dh 32.8 million in 2001.

Similarly, its re-exports decreased by 44.6 per cent from the previous year's figures to reach Dh 24,418 in 2001. These re-exports decreased by 100 per cent in 2000 compared with 1999 figures. It is important to note that Abu Dhabi did not export perfumes during the period 1999-2001.

Further, the figures indicate that the perfumes left for internal consumption are estimated at approximately Dh 32.7 million.

The top trading partners from which Abu Dhabi imported perfumes during 2001 were Saudi Arabia that captured 38 per cent of the share; France, 30 per cent; UK, 9 per cent; the U.S., 5 per cent; and Switzerland, 3 per cent.

Moreover, Abu Dhabi imported perfumes from Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain worth Dh 1.1 million. These, together with those imported from Saudi Arabia, comprise 40 per cent of the total imported perfumes.

Sharjah's external trade in perfumes: On the other hand, the external trade statistics recently released by Sharjah's Customs Department show that Sharjah's import of perfumes increased by 75.6 per cent to reach Dh 153.3 million in 2001 compared with 1997 figures.

While Sharjah's re-export of perfumes amounted to Dh 1.1 million only in 1997, the value of these re-exports increased 113 times to Dh120.7 million in 2001.

While the emirate had no perfume exports in 1997, its total exports in 2001 amounted to Dh1.5 million.

It is estimated that perfumes left for internal consumption amounted to Dh 32.5 million. France was the main source from which Sharjah imported perfumes as it captured 65 per cent of the total imports.

The U.S. ranked second with a share of 7 per cent, both Italy and the UK ranked third with a share of 5 per cent each, and Germany ranked fourth with 2 per cent.

Moreover, Sharjah's imports from other GCC countries, namely Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, amounted to Dh 880,345.