Gulf News reported that UAE witnessed a 63% increase in wood imports in the last 2 years, with 2007 figures reaching AED 8.5 billion as compared to AED 5.2 billion in 2005
Dubai Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation statistics indicate that market growth of 25% to 30% per annum, with certain segments enjoying higher growth rates.
The growth in the industry has come as more contractors are moving away from traditional concrete and tile and using wood products for flooring, construction work and interiors.
The majority of wood imports are timber and plywood, however, wood flooring has also seen a dramatic increase. According to statistics released by Dubai Customs, in 2005, flooring imports alone registered an increase of 1,345 %.
Along with the increased preference for wood in construction projects in the UAE, the re-export of wood from the UAE has grown by 60 per cent since 2006 and is set to go up by another 30 per cent in 2008, according to Mr Dawood Al Shezawi MD of Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions, which organized the annual Dubai Woodshow expo recently said that “The wood and wood products sector has largely benefited from the tremendous growth of the regional property market.
With AED 150 billon worth of projects still in the pipeline, there is remarkable scope for expansion of the wood industry.” |
