Although the UAE?s economy is set to slow in 2012, the outlook for the food industry remains strong. The UAE is set for another year of steady yet relatively uninspiring growth through 2012 as global headwinds stemming from the eurozone crisis and the imposition of more stringent international sanctions on Iran weigh on the outlook for the non-oil sector. Real GDP is forecast to expand by 3.0% following an estimated 3.3% rate of expansion posted in 2011. The latest HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index for the UAE would seem to confirm that a slight slowdown is already under way.The index, which is a measure of the economy's manufacturing and services sectors, dropped to a four-month low of 51.7 in December 2011. While the UAE's service sector received a boost in 2011 as a result of the Arab Spring (which saw tourists and some business activity shift to Dubai from other locations in the region), for the moment the defining feature of 2012 appears to be less about the Middle East and more about the global economic downturn. Given its relatively more open trade and capital market links with Europe and Asia, the UAE will likely be hit the hardest among its Gulf Cooperation Council peers.Headline Industry Data:- 2012 per capita food consumption growth in local currency = 4.9%; forecast to 2016 = 31.4%- 2012 soft drinks value sales growth = 6.3%; forecast to 2016 = 48.1%- 2012 mass grocery retail sales = 7.0%; forecast to 2016 = 53.3%Key Company Trends:Al Ain Dairy Announces Expansions ? In December 2011 the UAE dairy company Al Ain Dairy announced plans to invest US$180mn to beef up its production capacity with demand for dairy products likely to continue growing quickly over the next few years. Al Ain is a diversified company with products positioned across a number of dairy areas and juices too. Holding a particularly strong position in the fresh milk segment, the company has been expanding its portfolio of healthy dairy drinks, like laban, as health-consciousness c

The UAE is set for another year of steady yet relatively uninspiring growth through 2012, with real GDP forecast to expand by 3.0%. This follows an estimated 3.3% rate of expansion posted in 2011. Broadly speaking, the same problems that have been weighing on the economy since 2009 look set to continue over the coming quarters, with weakness in the domestic real estate market, anaemic credit growth and ongoing deleveraging in the private sector tempering our near-term outlook. Our real GDP growth forecast for the coming year is slightly below consensus; however, this is largely a product of BMI's relatively more pessimistic outlook on the health of the global economy.The outlook for the UAE's ports in 2012 is more upbeat, benefiting from their role as transhipment hubs. Strong growth is forecast by BMI at all of the emirates' major ports despite the headwinds facing the global economy, though we project that this growth rate will slow over our forecast period to 2016. The country's ports are proving themselves resilient in the face of increasing regional competition in the Gulf, with the Port of Jebel Ali announcing a capacity expansion to be completed over the mid term.Headline Industry Data:- Jebel Ali and Port Rashid's tonnage throughput is forecast to grow by 7.2% in 2012 and to average 5.9% through to 2016.- Sharjah container throughput (KCT and SCT) is forecast to grow by 6.7% in 2012, averaging 5.5% over the medium term.- Jebel Ali container throughput is forecast to grow by 10.9% in 2012, following estimated growth of 11.9% in 2011. Through to 2016, we expect growth to average 8.5%.- Total trade real growth is forecast at 9.0% in 2012 and to average 7.2% through to 2016.Key Industry Trends:Jebel Ali Announces Further Expansion Plans, Securing Gulf Transhipment Crown BMI believes that the DP World flagship facility of Jebel Ali in Dubai will remain the premier transhipment hub for the Gulf region, even in the face of increasing competition as the ot

This is a PDF report.

This is a PDF report.

This is a PDF report.