The UAE non-oil direct trade reached Dh534.1 billion ($145.4 billion) in the first half of 2015, marking a 2 per cent increase from the Dh521.8 billion ($142.07 billion) recorded during the same period in 2014, a report said.

According to a statement issued by the UAE Federal Customs Authority (FCA), non-oil imports reached Dh337.6 billion ($91.92 billion) during the first half of this year, a 1 per cent drop from the Dh340.6 billion ($92.74 billion) recorded in the same period last year, added the Gulf News report.

However, non-oil exports from the UAE jumped 28 per cent, reaching Dh81.4 billion ($22.16 billion), with gold exports topping the list at a value of Dh28.7 billion ($7.81 billion), a 35 per cent increase, said the report.

Native gold and processed gold also topped the list of imported goods in H1 2015, recording Dh50.7 billion ($13.80 billion) in trade value, representing 15 per cent of the total non-oil imports.

Vehicles came in second place with a value of Dh24.8 billion ($6.75 billion) (7.3 per cent of all imports), followed by non-composite diamond, mobile phones, and ornaments and jewellery.

Revenues from re-exports dropped two per cent to reach Dh115.2 billion ($31.37 billion) in H1 2015.

FCA said that the UAE’s direct non-oil trade remained considerably stable despite tougher economic conditions witnessed by many countries around the world, added the report.