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New figures show Commercial Vehicles industry on road to recovery in GCC
Dubai, UAE: New figures showing the commercial vehicles industry in the UAE and the rest of the GCC countries is well on the road to recovery have been released in the countdown to the trade's big regional showcase event in Dubai next week.
Commercial vehicles sales in each of the GCC countries for the first half of 2010 showed significant increases on the same period in 2009, with total sales in the region leaping by 37.97 per cent to 253,790. This includes trucks, busses, vans, pick-ups and utility vehicles.
The UAE leads the way after sales of 53,683 units, a 54 per cent rise. In Kuwait, 12,333 units were sold between January and June 2010, an increase of 49 per cent from the same period in 2009, with Oman experiencing a 41 per cent leap in sales to 28,079 units.
Bahrain recorded a 38 per cent increase with 6,758 sales for the period, while sales of 107,926 in Saudi Arabia and 13,781 in Qatar represented rises of 29 per cent and 24 per cent respectively.
The figures were released by global motor trade data specialists, Auto Strategies International, ahead of Commercial Vehicles Middle East, taking place from 14-16 March at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
While regional commercial vehicles sales still lag behind pre-recession levels, which reached 722,619 in 2008, the new figures reflect a fresh mood of optimism in the industry, as highlighted by a strong presence of major industry players in the exhibition line-up for Dubai.
Tom Nauwelaerts, General Manager of Al Futtaim Logistics said: "The commercial vehicles market will continue to recover in the GCC and we should see growth over the next few years as a result of developments in the region. However this growth is not anticipated to be at the levels previously enjoyed for a while yet".
Nauwelaerts, a speaker at the Commercial Vehicles Conference running alongside the exhibition, added: "Now we are witnessing an upward trend in freight movement and consumer activity. This is a positive sign for market recovery and hopefully a sustainable future direction".
Another conference speaker, Alex Borg, Regional Coordinator for the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport International, said: "The market is recovering slowly but surely. We may need three or four years to reach the heights of 2008 pre-recession. The local and international market is still fragile, but should recover fully in time".
Commercial Vehicles Middle East (www.commvehicles.com) covers all types of heavy and light commercial vehicles, special vehicles, vehicle attachments, accessories, maintenance and repair services. The event was launched last year to position the UAE as a regional focal point for the commercial vehicles industry in the region.
Culminating on the final day with two workshops, the Commercial Vehicles Conference will spotlight modernisation, optimisation, and future plans for the effective fleet management of heavy and light commercial vehicles.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SALES IN GCC
| |
2008 |
2009 |
Jan-Jun 2009 |
Jul-Dec 2009 |
Jan-Jun 2010 |
| Bahrain |
24395 |
11189 |
4251 |
6938 |
6758 |
| Kuwait |
68858 |
33642 |
12333 |
21309 |
24113 |
| Oman |
112423 |
70417 |
28079 |
42338 |
47529 |
| Qatar |
51645 |
20348 |
10530 |
9818 |
13781 |
| Saudi Arabia |
270274 |
172492 |
77175 |
95317 |
107926 |
| UAE |
195024 |
61375 |
25038 |
36337 |
53683 |
| Totals |
722619 |
369463 |
157406 |
212057 |
2537 |
About Commercial Vehicles Middle East:
Commercial Vehicles Middle East www.commvehicles.com will take place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 14-16 March 2011. The event is organised by Streamline Marketing Group. For more information about Commercial Vehicles Middle East, please contact Project Manager Streamline Marketing Group Hannah Victoria, Tel: +971 4 447 5357or hannah@smg-online.com
About Streamline Marketing Group
Streamline Marketing Group www.smg-online.com is a Dubai-based event management and marketing specialist with expertise in the turn-key management of exhibitions and conferences, and other international marketing and promotional projects. Other major events organised by the Group are the Big 5 PMV, taking place from 21-24 November 2011 in Dubai and the Global Space and Satellite Forum, from 9-11 May 2011 in Abu Dhabi.
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