German woodworking machinery exports to the Middle East crosses EUR106m mark in 2007

Among the rapidly developing economies in the region, the UAE has emerged as the fastest growing market for German woodworking machinery (WwM), increasing its imports by 48% to reach EUR7.7m within the same period. In a bid to leverage the massive demand for WwM in the region, leading German woodworking organisation VDMA, along with the German Trade Commission, is currently participating at the Dubai Woodshow 2008, which opened yesterday at the Dubai Airport Expo. Occupying the largest space at the event venue, the 1100 square metre-German Pavilion features state-of-the-art woodworking equipment and technologies from leading Germany-based woodworking machineries exporters.

The increasing momentum of German WwM exports to the Middle East started in year 2000, where a growth of four per cent has been recorded. From 2001 to 2003, the industry increased by nine per cent, and has further grown by seven per cent from 2004 to 2005. However, the year 2006 has witnessed the largest jump in total value of regional exports, escalating the overall growth of the German WwM shipment to the Middle East to 55% since 1996. As a global technology leader in WwMs, latest market figures have revealed that the German industry has recorded a turnover of EUR3.4bn and a market share of more than 26%.

'The woodworking machinery industry in Germany has grown to become a vital business, which has facilitated the production of high grade wood products being used in the world's most prestigious property developments,' said Dominik Wolfschuetz, Marketing Manager, VDMA.

'As the representative of 90% of Germany's machinery, systems and woodworking tools manufacturers, the German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers' Association in VDMA is focused on enhancing business opportunities for industry players, which comprise 220 companies employing approximately 19,300 workers. Through our participation at the Dubai Woodshow 2008, we are expecting to further enhance German WwM exports to high value markets such as the Middle East by building important partnerships with regional customers.'

Headlining the German delegation at the show is The Carbo Group, a leading manufacturer of a wide range of coated precision abrasives, which is showcasing its coated grinding products on backing paper, cloth and fibre in forms as sheet, cylinder, rolls, belts and discs. The company intends to approach new partners for the UAE market as well as other GCC countries, with aims of finding qualified and financially strong local distributors and agents to facilitate the entry of its coated grinding products to the said markets. The Carbo Group joins 23 other exhibitors at the German Pavilion, which is currently showcasing Germany's comprehensive range of products, from basic devices to highly sophisticated machineries and even entire plant set-ups.

As a primary destination for Germany's high quality exports, the UAE purchased EUR 6 million worth of German WwM in 2006, a figure more than double of its international exports in 2005, which was recorded at EUR2.8m. In 2007, VDMA has successfully tapped into the tremendous opportunities within the UAE's burgeoning construction industry, as reflected by its outstanding export figures to the country amounting to EUR7.7m. In addition, VDMA is also looking into reinforcing the presence of German WwM in the Saudi market, which has been supplied with EUR 1.4m worth of equipment in 2006.

'Supplying its international clientele with top-of-the-line woodworking equipment, VDMA has successfully facilitated the steady growth of German exports to amidst the rapidly expanding EUR12bn global WwM market. We regard VDMA's heavy participation at this year's event as a positive indication of their high interest in saturating the region's ever-growing construction industry with their high performance WwM, as the construction of high quality projects has become the primary goal of developers.

The participation of the German delegation and other high profile players justifies our high expectations for this year's edition of the Dubai Woodshow, which has gathered the world's most important names in both the wood and construction industries,' concluded Saif Hashmath, Exhibition Director, Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions.