Dubai automotive aftermarket remains in high stead as the emirate's direct trade in auto parts and accessories hit $2.4 billion in the first half of 2009 on a par with 2007 figures, said an industry expert.

“These latest figures from DP World Statistics Department for the first half of the year just past bring welcome news to the industry and are testament to the fact that the sector remains robust,” said Ahmed Pauwels, chief executive officer of Epoc Messe Frankfurt, organisers of Automechanika Middle East, the region’s leading trade fair for the automotive aftermarket sector.

DP World Statistics Department is set to release the complete figures for 2009 at Automechanika ME to be held in May.

“General consensus is that figures from Half Two of 2009, which will be revealed at our show in May, will be even stronger. This builds confidence that the automotive aftermarket remains in high stead for 2010 and beyond," Pauwels observed.

"We are excited about the eighth edition of Automechanika, which has already attracted key industry figures and expectations are high for a high quality and successful event," he added.

According to Pauwels, spare parts and accessories represent the Dubai automotive industry’s largest segment at 52 per cent of its import and re-export market. 

"In 2008, Japan was the largest importer for Dubai with Iran proving to be one of the key destinations for re-exports.
Alongside Japan, other key importers included US, Germany, UK, China and South Korea," he added.

Dubai’s automotive re-export market mainly features countries from the Middle East and Africa region including Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq, amongst others.

During Automechanika 2009, 26 per cent of registered visitors were importers and 17 per cent were exporters. A total of 958 exhibitors participated in the show representing 46 different countries, he stated. 

Parts and accessories top the global list for imports and exports in the automotive market with Germany being the number one source market and Iran representing the largest export destination. About 54 per cent of those parts and accessories imported in 2008 are then re-exported, he added.-TradeArabia News Service