Dubai's trade for auto parts and accessories, as revealed by Dubai Customs, stood at Dh40.5 billion in 2015, representing 3.3 per cent of Dubai's total non-oil foreign trade, which amounted to Dh1.28 trillion.

In terms of volume, around two million tonnes of auto parts and accessories were traded last year, according to Nassim Al Mehairi, Manager of Statistics Section at Dubai Customs. "Japan, South Korea, USA, Germany, and China were Dubai's top country partners last year in terms of auto parts trade at Dh5.5 billion, Dh3.4 billion, Dh3 billion, Dh2.9 billion, and Dh2.9 billion, respectively."

Major components of the emirate's booming automotive aftermarket trade were sedan tires at Dh3.3 billion, auto batteries at Dh2.6 billion, truck and bus tires at Dh2.4 billion, fuel filters at Dh1.1 billion and clutches at Dh1 billion, he added. The figures were announced to an audience of auto parts manufacturers, suppliers, fleet operators, and regulators at the Automechanika Fair Dubai 2016, being held at the World Trade Centre between 8 and 10 May 2016.

Director of Strategy and Corporate Excellence at Dubai Customs Ahmed Abdul Salam Kazim said, Dubai Customs spares no effort to safeguard the community against the perils of counterfeit auto parts, "so that consumers can rest assured that they buy only genuine parts and auto dealers can be kept safe from the losses resulting from the fake parts entering the markets."

Ahmed Pauwels, chief executive officer of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organizing company of the fair, said the figures announced play a great informative role in helping dealers envisage their business outlook and future growth of their investments. "Now in its 14th edition, Automechanika Dubai features 2,017 exhibitors from 58 countries, and covers the six core product groups of parts and components, electronics and systems, repair and maintenance,tyres and batteries, accessories and tuning, and service station & car wash. The three-day event is expected to draw in more than 30,000 trade buyers from 135 countries."