Abu Dhabi's foreign trade in goods accounted for 12.8 per cent of the GDP in 2017, reported state-run Wam, citing the Statistical Yearbook of Abu Dhabi 2018, released by the Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD).

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 Dh112.1 billion($305 billion) in 2017 compared with Dh117.8 billion in 2016.

The main imports during 2017 were 'Machinery, sound recorder, reproducers and parts', which accounted for 24.9 per cent of the total value. The United States of America was the main country for imports, from which the Emirate received goods worth Dh16.9 billion. Non-oil exports were valued at Dh22.3 billion, with 'Plastic, rubber and articles thereof' contributing 42.7 per cent of the total. China was the top destination of Abu Dhabi non-oil exports, receiving goods worth Dh4.1 billion from the Emirate in 2017.

Re-exports in 2017 were valued at Dh21.8 billion compared with Dh24.8 billion in 2016. The top category during 2017 was 'Machinery, sound recorders, reproducers and parts', which contributed 24.9 per cent of the re-exports total. China was the top country destination for re-exports with goods valued at Dh 3.4 billion.

The value of imports in goods from Asian countries through the ports of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi was Dh54.3 billion during 2017 compared with Dh55.2 billion in 2016. The value of non-oil exports in goods to Asian countries through the ports of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi was Dh15.6 billion while re- exports to Asian countries amounted to Dh18.1 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 per cent 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 per cent, followed by Netherlands, which purchased 12.0 per cent.

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