German woodworking exports to the Middle East has crossed the EUR 106 million mark during the first 10 months of 2007, following the industry's record success in 2006, which reflected a 35 per cent increase compared to figures in 2005. 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 per cent to reach EUR 7.7 million 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 (February 05, 2008) 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 per cent since 1996. As a global technology leader in WwMs, latest
market figures have revealed that the German industry has recorded a turnover of EUR
3.4 billion and a market share of more than 26 per cent.
"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 per cent 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 EUR 2.8 million. 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 EUR 7.7 million. In addition, VDMA is also looking into reinforcing the
presence of German WwM in the Saudi market, which has been supplied with EUR 1.4
million 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 EUR 12 billion 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.
About Dubai Woodshow 2008
Dubai Woodshow 2008 (February 5- 8, 2008, Dubai Airport Expo) is the premier trade
event for the wood and wood machinery industry in the region. A highly specialized
exhibition that assembles companies from the entire spectrum of the wood industry
under one roof, Dubai Woodshow 2008 offers exhibitors an excellent networking
platform, where they can build strategic relationships with buyers, traders and
investors. The event displays a wide range of wood products, including MDF, plywood,
hardwood, softwood, veneers, timbers, parquet, laminates, finished wood merchandise
and paper products. Dubai Woodshow 2008, which is organized by Strategic Marketing
and Exhibitions, grew by 100% and expects a 150% growth in the number of visitors.
