Africa accounted for 18% of Dubai Chamber members’ total global exports in January 2021

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Dubai Chamber) has said that members’ exports to Central and Western Africa recorded a surge of 85% and 57%, respectively, in January 2021, compared to the same month in the previous year. The total value of member companies’ exports targeting the African continent reached AED 2.9 billion during the same month, marking a 4.2% year-on-year increase achieved despite Covid-19-related economic headwinds. 

Information from the Chamber’s Certificates of Origin (COO) database shows that Africa’s share of the total declared value of Dubai Chamber members’ world exports was 18% in January 2021, up from 16% in the same month during the previous year. Growing demand from Africa for UAE products and Dubai’s world-class logistics infrastructure were factors that drove export growth over the past 12 months. The COO figures revealed particularly strong demand for UAE exports in Central Africa and Western Africa, with these regions achieving 85% and 57% year-on-year growth respectively. Egypt represents the most important country in Northern Africa for Dubai Chamber members trading with Africa, accounting for 78% of exports targeting this particular sub-region. 

Sudan is in second place with a share of 11% and Algeria is in third with 6%. Libya and Morocco each accounted for a 2% share, while Tunisia came in sixth with a share of 1%. In terms of annual growth, Egypt and Sudan were in a leading position among Northern Africa countries with 18% and 21% year-on-year growth, respectively. South Africa accounts for the lion’s share of Dubai Chamber members’ exports to Southern Africa, with three quarters of shipments to this sub-region going to the country. Botswana accounts for another 20% of exports, with the country’s low base value in January 2020 enabling it to realise a nearly threefold year-on-year increase. The data also showed that smaller economies in the five sub-regions in Africa are accelerating their imports growth, a trend supported by recent policies and strategies adopted by many African to accelerate economic development, which creates plenty of new export opportunities for Dubai-based trading companies.