Business Bureau, Gulf Today

According to Dubai Customs, Dubai traded 2.1 million tonnes of auto parts and accessories worth $10.3 billion in 2018, a 32 percent increase in value of what the Emirate traded in 2009 (US$7.8 billion).

That figure includes imports of auto parts, accessories, batteries, tyres, and engine components worth US$5.5 billion last year, while exports and re-exports into surrounding continents was worth US$4.8 billion.

Japan topped the list of country partners for Dubai’s auto parts trade according to Dubai Customs, with the two trading US$1.4 billion worth of aftermarket products in 2018.  Rounding out the top five list was the USA (US$735,000 worth of auto parts trade), Germany (US$680,000), Korea (US$626 million), and China (US$626 million).

 The steady growth in both exhibitor and visitor numbers at Automechanika Dubai 2019 has underlined a successful conclusion to the Middle East and Africa’s (MEA) largest automotive aftermarket trade fair.

The 17th edition of the annual showcase, which took place recently at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, registered a four percent year-on-year increase in exhibitors in 2019, with 1,880 exhibitors from 63 countries on-board.

Pre-audited visitor and trade buyer numbers from the event’s organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East also come in at 32,414 from 146 countries, nearly two percent up on the previous year.

Automechanika Dubai 2019 covered the six major product sections of Parts & Components and Electronics & Systems (1,181 exhibitors); Accessories & Customizing (246 exhibitors); Tyres & Batteries (226 exhibitors); Repair & Maintenance (155 exhibitors); and Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning (72 exhibitors).

Messe Frankfurt Middle East also added the four new sub-categories of Agricultural Parts & Equipment; Body & Paint; Motorcycle Competence; and Oils & Lubricants.  The move was designed to make it easier for the tens of thousands of visitors to navigate the vast 63,300sqm expanse of exhibition space.

With 23 country pavilions and 34 international trade associations, and a buzzing Innovation Zone providing informative insights to the auto aftermarket’s future, Automechanika Dubai doubled down on its globally renowned reputation as the gateway to the vast MEA market and beyond.

“The last 12 months have been challenging, but we worked tirelessly to deliver another successful show, where the entire global automotive aftermarket community converged to share knowledge and expand their business networks not only in the MEA, but also the subcontinent and CIS,” said Mahmut Gazi Bilikozen, Automechanika Dubai’s Show Director.

“Dubai’s central location between manufacturing countries from the East, Europe, and the Americas, coupled with its reputation as an Emirate that allows access for traders and aftermarket professionals from throughout the wider region means Automechanika Dubai can attract the kind of buyers that no other aftermarket trade fair can.”

Dubai’s status as a gateway to emerging global markets – and in particular the auto aftermarket – was highlighted by figures released at Automechanika Dubai 2019 by Dubai Customs showing double-digit growth over the last ten years in the Emirate’s aftermarket parts trade.

These countries also had a strong presence at Automechanika Dubai 2019, with all having national pavilions at the show.  Meanwhile, exhibitors across the board expressed their satisfaction with the exhibition and the interest generated prospective business partners at the show.

Balkrishna Industries (BKT), a manufacturer and exporter of Off Highway Tyres, and one of the headline returning exhibitors at Automechanika Dubai in 2019 was among these: “Automechanika Dubai is a very good platform for us where we can meet our customers from the Middle East and Africa. It is the foremost trade show for our tyres sector,” said Vikash Nathani, Asst. General Manager, Corporate Communications, for BKT.

“Visitors have been coming in by the droves to observe our range of products. As long as the construction in the region keeps up its impressive range of growth, we see the regional market as a very positive one.

Azhar Jaleel, Marketing Manager in the Middle East for German manufacturer Mann + Hummel, was another satisfied participant, saying: “We’ve exhibited at Automechanika Dubai since 2014.  Here we meet with our distributors and potential customers, and we’ve noticed an increasing number of visitors are now attending from other regions like North Africa, making it a win-win situation for us.

“In Africa we have more prospective business deals and business contacts, and we except the market will grow at seven percent in the next year.  The Gulf region will grow at an expected 2-4 percent, depending on how high the oil price is. In general, we see that Africa and North Africa are playing a bigger role in our sector now.