ABU DHABI – The total value of Abu Dhabi's non-oil merchandise trade in September 2012 was AED11,793 million, of which AED9,242 million (78.4 percent of total) was imports, AED1,242 million (10.5 percent of total) was non-oil exports of and AED1,309 million (11.1 percent of total) was re-exports, according to Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD) monthly report on non-oil merchandise trade through the ports of the Emirate of Abu for the month of September 2012. According to SCAD's report, the total value of non-oil merchandise trade in September 2012 was AED11,793m, of which AED9,242m (78.4 percent of total) was imports, AED1,242m (10.5 percent of total) was non-oil exports of and AED1,309m (11.1 percent of total) was re-exports. Total non-oil merchandise trade dropped by AED242m (2.0 percent) in September compared with August 2012, with non-oil exports retreating by AED948m (43.3 percent) while imports advanced by AED478m (5.5 percent) and re-exports by AED227m (21.0 percent) over the same period of time. A year on year comparison (September 2012/2011) shows a decrease of AED160m (1.3 percent) in total trade, with imports decreasing by AED1,140m (11.0 percent), while non-oil exports increased by AED684m (122.5 percent) and re-exports by AED297m (29.3 percent), over the same period. Analysis of trade data for September compared with August 2012 revealed a rise of 5.5 percent in imports, due to increases in the imports of “Machinery and transport equipment” by AED432m (10.0 percent) and “Chemicals and related products” by AED249m (29.9 percent). Meanwhile, the value of non-oil exports declined by 43.3 percent, reflecting decreases of AED600m (79.3 percent) in “Machinery and transport equipment”, AED289m (44.6 percent) in “Chemicals and related products” and AED115m (24.5 percent in “Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material”. On the other hand, re-exports advanced by 21.0 percent, with increases of AED192m (26.7 percent) in “Machinery and transport equipment” and AED47m (143 percent) in “Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material”. A year-on-year comparison of non-oil merchandise trade data (for September 2012/2011) indicates a fall of 11 percent in the value of imports, due to decreases of AED713m (13.0 percent) in “Machinery and transport equipment” and AED417m (55.0 percent) in “Other” commodities. By contrast, non-oil exports advanced 122.5 percent, with increases of AED257m (1,268.9 percent) in “Miscellaneous manufactured items”, AED180m (100.5 percent) in “Chemicals and related products” and AED118m (49.6 percent) in “Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material”. Similarly, the value of re-exports increased by 29.3 percent, reflecting increases of AED288m (46.4 percent) in “Machinery and transport equipment” and AED53m (143.0 percent) in “Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material”, which were partially offset by a decrease of AED41m (17.9 percent) in “Miscellaneous manufactured items”. SCAD's report also details the imports, non-oil exports and re-exports in September 2012 by value and trading partner, revealing that the top countries of origin for imports were USA, which was the source of imports worth (AED1,119m), Germany (AED1,117m) and Saudi Arabia (AED915m). Together, these three countries supplied 34.1 percent of Abu Dhabi's total imports in September 2012. China was the top destination of Abu Dhabi's non-oil exports in September 2012, receiving merchandise worth (AED372m), followed by Saudi Arabia (AED363m) and Singapore (AED106m). The combined share of these three countries was 67.7 percent of total non-oil exports in September 2012. Bahrain topped the list of destinations for Abu Dhabi's re-exports by value, receiving merchandise worth (AED271m), followed by Qatar (AED200m) and Saudi Arabia (AED178m). Re-exports to these top three countries made up 49.6 percent of total re-exports during September 2012. SCAD said the largest monthly figure for imports through the ports of Abu Dhabi over the period from January 2010 to September 2012 was AED12,777m, recorded in October 2011, while the largest non-oil exports figure (AED3,261m) was recorded in August 2010, and the largest re-exports (AED1,360m) in May 2012. — SG
