Special Features
Dhs2b of tea traded through Dubai in the first nine months of 2011
The 4th Global Dubai Tea Forum 2012, hosted by Dubai Tea Trading Centre, an initiative of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, reported that tea traded through Dubai reached over Dhs2bn during the first nine month of last year, according to data provided by Dubai Customs.Dubai has positioned itself as a major global hub for the tea trade. Not only is Dubai the second largest export destination for Indian and Sri Lankan tea, the DTTC is the partner of choice for the major tea producing countries including Kenya, Uganda and Indonesia. According to DTTC official data, over 8,500 metric tonnes of tea, bulk and tea bags, passed through its warehouse last year, approximately three quarters of which were distributed to the Middle East, with the remaining destined for the United States, China, Europe and West Africa.
His Excellency Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry inaugurated the forum and delivered a keynote at the only event in the region specific to the global tea industry.
"Dubai is an important player in the supply chain for the industry due to its strategic location with proximity to emerging markets in Europe, North America and Africa and to a consumer base of over 2.2 billion in the region," Al Ghurair said. "In addition, there has been a marked shift over the last decade from beverage manufacturers who prefer to set up operations in Dubai to service the local market and export to other countries in the region. The real encouragement came from the services offered by the Emirate including the efficient transshipment and deep-sea facilities combined with air-cargo to access hard-to-reach locations around the world."
His Excellency also highlighted how the Dubai Global Tea Forum, an initiative of the Dubai Tea Trading Centre (DTCC) and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), has established itself as an important platform for the tea industry and plays an instrumental role in strengthening highlighting the role of Dubai as an international business hub especially in the tea industry.
Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC, said:
"Through initiatives such as the Global Dubai Tea Forum, we will continue to drive DMCC’s mission to ensure Dubai’s position as the regional commodities trade hub. We are pleased to have hosted such an impressive array of tea industry leaders and look forward to working with many of them to strengthen and grow the tea industry in Dubai.
Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a major global tea trading and value-addition hub, by offering state-of-the-art facilities, value-added services and innovative products. We are committed to further advance both the industry and our crucial position within it and have secured $10m to invest in infrastructure over the next year."
The Forum addressed new developments and issues facing the industry, with a focus on sharing industry-specific knowledge. Sessions included: Global supply and demand trends; Branding and marketing trends in the beverage industry; Production and price trends in the beverage commodities; Tea producers’ perspective on industry challenges and opportunities; Challenges of tea trading; as well as updates from the major tea producing countries.
Keynote speakers and attendees at the two-day conference were: H.E. Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman DMCC; Sicily Kariuki, Managing Director, Tea Board of Kenya; Niraj de Mel, Managing Director, Vanrees Ceylon Ltd; Ramaz Chanturiya, General Director, Rusteacoffee, Russia; Heneage Mitchell, Managing Editor, STiR Tea & Coffee Industry and Manuja Peiris, Chief Executive International Tea Committee, UK.
The Forum saw 300 delegates attend from 31 of countries around the world. Delegates included producers, merchant exporters from producing countries, regional and international tea buyers, Tea Boards and Associations, machine manufacturers, raw material suppliers and many others connected with the tea industry.
As the region’s sole tea trade centre, DTTC provides tea companies the ability to store, blend and export, allowing merchants to develop blend recipes specific to countries and market requirements. This value-added service has seen exports grow 130% to 4.3 million kilograms of tea in 2011.
The DTTC presently warehouses teas from over ten producing countries, including Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and China. In keeping with its mandate to further increase the tea trade in and through Dubai, the DTTC also facilitates sales with buyers in the GCC countries, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Afghanistan, UK and SIC countries.
