A scenic view of Abu Dhabi.

The value of Abu Dhabi’s foreign trade of foodstuffs amounted to Dhs7.51 billion during the first five months of 2021, reflecting the according to data issued by the General Administration of Customs in Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Customs).

In terms of foodstuff trade, the number of customs transactions reached 72,918 (66,389 by land, 4,290 by air, 2,239 by sea) during the first five months, recording an increase of 61 percent when compared to 62,906 transactions during the same period in 2020. The size of traded foodstuffs reached about 1.74 million tonnes, comprising 998,179 tonnes of imports and 414,689 tonnes of exports, and 330,233 tonnes of re-exports.

Abu Dhabi’s total value of foreign trade in foodstuffs included imports with a value exceeding Dhs3.14 billion, exports with a value of Dhs2.88 billion, a growth of 11 percent compared to Dhs2.60 billion during the same period of 2020, and re-exports with a value of Dhs 1.5 billion, a growth of 5 percent compared to Dhs 1.42 billion.

Saudi Arabia maintained its position as Abu Dhabi’s largest strategic partner in the foodstuff trade sector, trading around Dhs3.37 billion, a growth of 3 percent compared to Dhs3.29 billion during the same period of 2020.

Kuwait ranked second with a total foodstuff trade value of Dhs 804.59 million, a growth of 20 percent compared to Dhs671.16 million during the same period of last year, followed by Yemen with Dhs 626.14 million, Bahrain with Dhs348.62 million, Jordan with Dhs314.60 million, Oman with Dhs274.16 million, and Spain with Dhs184.42 million.

Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Customs, said that Abu Dhabi Customs is continuing its efforts to promote and facilitate food trade movement in Abu Dhabi through employing highly qualified Emirati professionals, as well as digital customs services, to meet the needs of all traders, especially in the foodstuffs sector, in line with the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership to enhance food security in the UAE.