Dubai’s foreign trade in foodstuffs has recorded a 14 per cent surge in the first nine months of 2014 which hit Dh66 billion ($18 billion) when compared to Dh58.2 billion ($15.8 billion) the previous year, said a report.

The sector’s escalating growth is due to Dubai’s ongoing economic and demographic development, stated the state news agency Wam, citing figures released by Dubai Customs on the sidelines of the ongoing Gulfood 2015 exhibition in Dubai, UAE.

This upswing was expressed in imports rising from Dh37.6 billion to Dh43 billion during January-September 2014, stated the report.

Dubai's re-exports surged from Dh11 billion to Dh13 billion and exports from Dh9.6 billion to Dh10 billion. This further promotes the emirate’s status as a global hub for foodstuff trading in the region, the report added.

Ahmed Abdul Salam Kazim, the strategy and corporate excellence director, said: "Dubai Customs looks forward to reinforcing the emirate’s foothold on the global landscape of foodstuffs trading industry, and has effectively contributed to the growth of food business by providing quality customs facilities for this sector, and ensuring speedy customs clearance of all its shipments, in order to cater to the food needs of the community without unnecessary delays."

The upward trend is driven by a favourable business environment with exceptional logistic services and facilitations, time and cost saving customs procedures, as well as efficient quality control measures on all Dubai’s traded food commodities, he added.