Dubai imported $3.6 billion worth of plastics and rubbers, and exported $1.3 billion worth of the same commodities in 2015, according to latest figures revealed by Dubai Statistics Centre.

Dubai also re-exported $1.008 billion worth of plastics and rubbers in the same period, said a statement from the centre.    

These trade figures were revealed today during a press briefing held by the German trade fair organiser Messe Dusseldorf while announcing the GCC’s response to ‘K 2016’, the largest international trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry, taking place from October 19 to 26, in Dusseldorf, Germany, it said

The German company said that the UAE is succeeding in diversifying its economy by investing heavily in the industrial sector including the plastics industry as it is taking early steps in its bid to say farewell to the last drop of oil.

The company said the UAE plastics industry growth is fuelled by industrial diversifying initiatives spearheaded by the UAE government.

Erhard Wienkamp, division director, Messe Düsseldorf, said: “K 2016 has been fully booked for months. More than 3,000 exhibitors from more than 50 nations will take part. As usual, the largest group of exhibitors comes from Europe, particularly from Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France and Turkey. At the same time, the K trade fair is a clear indicator of changes in the global market.”

“Over the past few years, the number of Asian companies and the exhibition area that they booked has been rising steadily. This year, particularly China, India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan will be impressing visitors with their strong presence,” he said.

“As the K trade fair features a wide abundance of companies from all over the world, the spotlight is not only on the major issues that concern the industry – such as energy, resource and material efficiency – but also on niche segments,” he added.

K 2016 will spread across the entire exhibition area at Düsseldorf and exhibitors will present their products and services in all of the venue’s 19 halls with a total area of almost 170,000 sq m, it added. – TradeArabia News Service