Nuts of various shapes and types ranked first in Dubai's foreign trade of food, followed by frozen meat, then milk and milk products, chocolate and its products, tea, sugar and rice.
In detail, the value of Dubai's foreign trade in the foodstuff sector increased by 3% to reach 86.2 billion dirhams in 2019, compared to 84 billion dirhams from 2018.
Exports increased by 15.3% to reach 16.94 billion dirhams, compared to 14.69 billion dirhams, while "re-exports" increased by 2% to reach 17.27 billion dirhams, compared to 16.93 billion dirhams, and imports were stable at 52 billion dirhams.
According to recent statistical data released by Dubai Customs, on the occasion of the Gulfood Expo 2020, India has ranked first in Dubai's trading partners with a share of 6.41% of the total food trade worth AED 5.53 billion, followed by the United States, which accounts for 6.3% with a value of 5.45 billion Dirhams, then Iraq, with a share of 5.3%, at a value of 4.57 billion dirhams, while Brazil’s share amounted to 4.72%, at a value of four billion dirhams, Oman, by 3.77%, and at a value of 3.25 billion dirhams, then China, by 3.13%, at a value of 2.7 billion dirhams.
Dubai's foreign trade in foodstuffs varied during the year 2019, in which nuts of various shapes and types came at the forefront of the list with a value of 4.2 billion dirhams, then frozen meat with a value of 3.69 billion dirhams, milk and its products recorded a value of 3.21 billion dirhams, chocolate and its products with a value of three billion dirhams, then tea Sugar is worth two billion dirhams each, and rice is worth 1.96 billion dirhams.
The Director of Statistics and Studies at Dubai Customs, Naseem Al Muhairi, said that the department sets its sights on developing its customs performance in a sustainable manner through relying on the latest smart applications of information technology to keep pace with the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and artificial intelligence, to establish Dubai's global platform for international trade, and achieve a vision Driving by bringing Dubai's non-oil foreign trade to two trillion dirhams within five years.
She added: "The trade of foodstuffs is one of the most important sectors that benefit from the services and smart customs procedures that the department provides to traders and investors, by virtue of the nature of foodstuffs that need to speed customs clearance in conjunction with completing the procedures followed to ensure food safety and then reaching the consumer with the best specifications."