Abu Dhabi Ports reach $21.84bn worth non-oil foreign trade in 2020

The customs division of the Abu Dhabi government has announced that the value of non-oil foreign trade in emirate reached $21.84 billion through its ports during the first five months of 2020.

Exports amounted to $6.32 billion and the value of re-exports reached $4.03 billion, while the value of imports reached a steady growth of $11.50 billion.

Saudi Arabia retained first place among most trading countries with Abu Dhabi during the first five months of this year, with turnover between the two countries reaching $4.88 billion.

The pearl, precious stones and precious metals topped the list of the most exporting non-oil commodities worth $1.71 billion during the first five months of this year, followed by common metals and manufacturing at $1.61 billion.

Transport equipment came in first place in the re-export level with $1.52 billion, while machines, recording devices and audiovisual broadcasting equipment came in first place in import at $2.63 billion.

A total of 434,647 customs transactions were completed through Abu Dhabi’s land, sea and airports, contributing to the necessary community needs of food, medicine and goods.

Saeed Saad al-Qahtani, head of Khalifa Port Khalifa Customs Center, told that Khalifa Container Breach Center saw a seven percent growth in standard container entry in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. During the same period, the customs center at Khalifa Port received some 78,000 standard containers to meet the community’s needs for goods, food and medicines, he said.

Customs Controller Salem Hussein said Abu Dhabi Customs continues its efforts to protect and educate its staff, observers and inspectors who deal directly with goods and cargo by requiring everyone to use face masks, gloves and clothing. All inspectors undergo regular COVID-19 tests to maintain the health and safety of those who deal directly with goods and cargo.

The value of non-oil goods trade is limited to goods that have entered or departed from Abu Dhabi’s land, sea and airports, which means that these goods do not represent all of Abu Dhabi’s non-oil trade with the world because they do not include trade through other ports in the country.