Abu Dhabi's foreign trade in goods accounted for 12.8% of the GDP in 2017, according to the Statistical Yearbook of Abu Dhabi 2018, released by the Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD) Monday.

Reflecting the contribution of foreign trade to the economy in general, the non-oil merchandise trade statistics presented in the document comprises trade in goods which entered or exited the territory of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi through the ports of Abu Dhabi (comprising air, sea and road ports). It should be noted that foreign trade data presented in this report do not cover non-oil exports, re-exports and imports through ports of the other emirates in the UAE.

Commodity imports in goods through the ports of the Emirate Abu Dhabi were valued at AED112.1 billion in 2017 compared with AED117.8 billion in 2016.

The main imports during 2017 were 'Machinery, sound recorder, reproducers and parts', which accounted for 24.9% of the total value. The United States of America was the main country for imports, from which the Emirate received goods worth AED16.9 billion. Non-oil exports were valued at AED22.3 billion, with 'Plastic, rubber and articles thereof' contributing 42.7% of the total. China was the top destination of Abu Dhabi non-oil exports, receiving goods worth AED4.1 billion from the Emirate in 2017.

Re-exports in 2017 were valued at AED21.8 billion compared with AED24.8 billion in 2016. The top category during 2017 was 'Machinery, sound recorders, reproducersand parts', which contributed 24.9% of the re-exports total. China was the top country destination for re-exports with goods valued at AED 3.4 billion.

The value of imports in goods from Asian countries through the ports of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi was AED54.3 billion during 2017 compared with AED55.2 billion in 2016. The value of non-oil exports in goods to Asian countries through the ports of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi was AED15.6 billion while re- exports to Asian countries amounted to AED18.1 billion.

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi exported 0.48 billion barrels of crude oil in 2017. Japan was the top importer receiving around 31.4% of the Emirate's total crude oil exports. In 2017, the Emirate exported 32.5 million metric tons of refined petroleum products, of which Japan bought 14.2%, followed by Netherlands, which purchased 12.0%.

The Emirate imported 754.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas in 2017, at a daily average of 2.1 billion cubic feet.

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