Aftermarket demand at US$8 bn per year in UAE

Sunaina Rana / EMIRATES BUSINESS

The demand for automobile parts and accessories is on
the rise in UAE, according to Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, as the region’s leading exhibition
organizer is gearing up for
the 14th edition of Automechanika Dubai 2016.
The event, which will be held from May 8-10 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, will have a strong presence of exhibitors from Africa — one of the world’s leading aftermarket suppliers.
“Dubai’s ease of access to the continent makes it an ideal launching pad to develop business links with Africa. A full 10 percent of trade buyers at the last Automechanika Dubai came from the African continent and this figure is only going to increase,” Pauwels told Emirates Business.
“If we come to see there are nearly 22 million vehicles on the continent’s roads at present. This figure has been contributing to the rise in demand for parts and accessories worth over US$8 billion per annum,” he added.
According to Messe Frankfurt, over 3,000 visitors from 40 African countries visited the 13th edition of Automechanika Dubai in 2015, 11 percent increase in comparison to the previous year. The Automotive Industry Export Council (AIEC) is among the headline exhibitors at the government-backed Pavilion, which will feature around 15 exhibitors, and is one of 21 official country pavilions at Automechanika Dubai 2016.
Africa is emerging as an increasingly significant market for the global manufactuerers for the accessories and engine components. Dr Norman Lamprecht, Director of AIEC, stated that Africa continues to be prime focus for the South African automotive industry; following the exponential growth in auto exports to the UAE highlights its significance position as a key growth market for South Africa.
“The UAE was one of 30 destinations to which automotive exports more than doubled on a year-on-year basis to US$79 million in 2015, from US$33 million in 2014. This could be directly linked to South Africa’s participation with a National Pavilion at the Automechanika Dubai and it’s anticipated that the upward regional growth momentum will continue in the future,” said Lamprecht.
“As the demand for automobiles, auto components and accessories increase across Africa driven up by fast-growing economies, the continent will figure prominently as a major target for automotive aftermarket brands, which are increasingly looking to Automechanika to aid their expansion efforts,” said Ahmed Pauwels. “Dubai’s ease of access to the continent makes it an ideal launching pad to develop business links with Africa. A full 10 percent of trade buyers at the last Automechanika Dubai came from the African continent and this figure is only going to increase.”
Automechanika Dubai 2016 is expected to feature more than 2,000 exhibitors from 60 countries. The prime focus is to be laid on the six core products groups of Parts and Components; Electronics and Systems; Repair and Maintenance; Tyres and Batteries; Car Wash, Care and Reconditioning; and Accessories and Customising.
The event anticipates enticing over 30,000 visitors from 134 countries. Automechanika Dubai’s global appeal will be highlighted by the presence 38 international trade associations, while 88 percent of exhibitors and more than half of the visitors are expected to come from outside of the UAE.