Dubai’s trade volume of flowers, live trees, seedlings, roots and bulbs has seen a significant rise of +12.6% in the first five months of the year, compared to the same period in 2010, according to statistics recently released by Dubai Customs.
The emirate’s flowers volume hit Dh71 million (US$ 19.33 mill.) from January to May 2011, compared to around Dh63 million ($ 17.15 mill.) in the same period last year. Ahmed Butti, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Dubai Customs Director-General, said Dubai exports of flowers, bulbs, live trees and other plants has witnessed a record percentage, reaching +139% to Dh20 million ($ 5.5 mill.) as opposed to last year, when it was at around Dh8.3 million ($ 2.25 mill.). Imports of these products hit Dh49.16 million ($ 13.4 mill.) in the same period, whereas re-exports amounted to Dh1.34 million ($ 0.36 mill.) “The re-exporting activity valued at 1.34 million with a decreasing rate of – 53% against the same period last year where it reached Dh2.87 million for the first five months of 2010,” Butti said.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands topped the list of exporting countries of flowers and plants into Dubai with a value of Dh16.6 million ($ 4.5 mill.) = 33.8% of Dubai imports for these products, followed by Kenya with a value Dh6.8 million ($ 1.85 mill.) = 13.8%, and Thailand with Dh5.14 million ($ 1.4 mill.) = 10.5%. “These top three countries constituted a share of 58% of the total Dubai import rate for flowers and plants,” Butti said.
As for the top importing countries, Iraq came first on the list with a value of Dh14.15 million ($ 3.85 mill. = 71%), while India came second with Dh2.86 million ($ 0.78 mill. =14.3%) and Egypt third with Dh1.18 million ($ 0.32 mill. = 5.9%). Flowers and plants exports to these three countries had a share of 91% of the total Dubai export rate for flowers and plants. “However, Kuwait topped the re-exporting list over the period from January to May 2011 with 29.6%, followed by Qatar with 22.5% and Iran with 19.4%. The three countries make a share of 71.6% of the total re-exporting activity in Dubai,” Butti said.
Source: Khaleej Times /MNS / hortibiz