Gulfood 2022: UAE’s F&B trade crosses $20bn from January-September 2021

The food and beverage trade in the UAE crossed $20bn in the first nine months of 2021, according to a new analysis from Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

Imports accounted for the largest share of the UAE’s F&B trade during January-September 2021 period, amounting to $12.8bn.

Exports accounted for $4.1bn while re-exports amounted to $3.3bn.

Moreover, from 2011 to 2020, the UAE’s F&B imports, exports and re-exports grew at a CAGR of 0.6 per cent, 7.5 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively.

India was the UAE’s top F&B trading partner in the first nine months of 2021. India accounted for 12 per cent of the UAE’s total F&B trade value. It was followed by the US (7 per cent) Brazil (6 per cent) Australia (5 per cent), Canada (5 per cent) and Saudi Arabia (5 per cent).

Imported fruits and nuts accounted for the largest proportion of the UAE’s imports at 13 per cent, followed by meat (11 per cent) dairy products (10 per cent) and oilseeds (7 per cent).

The findings of the UAE’s F&B trade were based on data obtained from the country’s Federal Competitiveness and Statistical Center (FCSC), and were released during a briefing hosted by Dubai Chamber of Commerce on the sidelines of the ongoing Gulfood 2022 event in Dubai.

We hosted today our Gulfood Breakfast Briefing event, which was organised on the sidelines of the #Gulfood 2022 exhibition in #Dubai, and attended by 200 participants from 48 countries. To read more: https://t.co/XRS2AWEzOk pic.twitter.com/pmiarMXFqk

— Dubai Chamber (@dubaichamber) February 14, 2022

Ten markets accounted for about 66 per cent of the UAE’s total F&B exports from January-September 2021, with Saudi Arabia ranking first in this category with a share of 17 per cent, followed by Oman (9 per cent), Kuwait (8 per cent) and China (5 per cent).

According to FCSC, in 2021 (Q1-Q3) the top 10 product groups accounted for around 76 per cent of UAE’s F&B imports from the world. Fruits and nuts took the largest share of 13 per cent, followed by meat (11 per cent), dairy (10 per cent), oil seeds (7 per cent), cereals (7 per cent) and other edible food products (6 per cent).

In May last year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the first phase of the Food Tech Valley in Dubai. The initiative seeks to triple the UAE’s food production and will include a smart food logistics hub, R&D facilities as well as agricultural technology and engineering labs.