Dubai's iron and steel trade registered a 32.5 per cent jump in 2006 compared to 2005, reflecting the construction boom that is underway in the UAE and across the Gulf region.

According to a report compiled by the Statistics Department of Dubai World and released on Sunday , some 8.1 million tonnes of iron and steel worth Dh30.1 billion passed through Dubai's entry points during 2006, as against 6.6 million tonnes (worth Dh22.7 billion) a year earlier.

The report said, "The sharp rise in volumes was the result of the growth in the construction sector, especially the giant real estate projects and infrastructure work like airport, roads, bridges, power lines and the metro. We expect that this trend will continue over the next five years since many of these projects are in their early stages."

The report shows that while Dubai imported 6.3 million tonnes iron and iron product imports valued at Dh22.8 billion, it also registered significant exports (1.2 million tonnes, worth Dh4.1 billion) and re-exports (621 thousand tonnes, worth Dh3.1 billion).

According to the Dubai World Statistics Department, Turkey has topped the list of iron and steel exporters to Dubai, accounting for Dh4 billion or 17.5 per cent of the total, followed by China Dh3.1billion (13.5 per cent), India Dh3 billion (13.1 per cent), South Korea Dh1.2 billion (5.1 per cent), and Germany with Dh1.1 billion (4.9 per cent).

India led as importer of iron and steel products from Dubai, with a total order of Dh805.7 million (19.5 per cent), followed by China with Dh411 million (10 per cent), Taiwan with Dh409 million (9.9 per cent), Indonesia with Dh246 million (6 per cent), and Pakistan with Dh223 million (5.4 per cent).

On the re-export front, Iran took the leading spot with Dh566.7 million (18 per cent), followed by India with Dh263.5 million (8.4 per cent), Algeria with Dh258 million (8.2 per cent), Iraq with Dh211.5 million (6.7 per cent) and Qatar with Dh188.2 million (6 per cent).