Fast Market Research recommends "United Arab Emirates Shipping Report Q4 2012" from Business Monitor International, now available

Boston, MA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/25/2012 --In 2012 we project that the UAE will enjoy real GDP growth of 3.5%, a slight improvement on our estimate for 2011, 3.3%. Credit conditions remain weak, though the improvement in consumer sentiment will likely lead to an uptick in private consumption. Growth over the medium term will remain steady, with the economy set to expand by 3.2% in 2013 before accelerating slightly to between 4.4% and 4.7% from 2014 to 2016. The ports sector in the UAE is set to perform particularly well, and is pressing ahead with new developments and expansions.

As a result, the growth outlook for the UAE's ports in 2012 is upbeat. The facilities also benefit 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; however, we project that this growth rate will slow over our forecast period to 2016.

View Full Report Details and Table of Contents

Headline Industry Data

- 2012 Jebel Ali and Port Rashid total tonnage throughput growth forecast at 6.8%, and to average 5.3% to 2016.
- Sharjah container throughput (KCT and SCT) is forecast to grow by 6.7% in 2012, averaging 5.3% over the medium term.
- Jebel Ali container throughput is forecast to grow by 11.9% in 2012. Through to 2016, we expect growth to average 8.0%.
- Total trade real growth is forecast at 8.5% in 2012 and to average 6.5% through to 2016.

Key Industry Trends

Khalifa Port Above Regional Competition

BMI believes that the opening of the Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, planned for the last quarter of 2012, will further boost the UAE's ports sector, already the outperformer of the region. The question mark over the need for the raft of facilities being developed in the Gulf region remains, though it should be noted that Khalifa Port has stated that it is not competing for transhipment business, but rather to become a destination port, fully supported by the presence alongside of the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD).

Jebel Ali Signs Up For Rail Freight

The development of the UAE's planned railway network is rolling forward, with the project's developer and operator Etihad Rail turning its attention to the country's container freight needs. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the railway company and DP World, the operator of the country's largest box port, Jebel Ali.

Emerging Markets Buoy DP World Results

BMI believes that DP World's latest results are indicative of the global macroeconomic environment, with the emerging world outperforming the company's assets in developed markets. The terminal operator's focus on emerging markets is a strategy that has served it well so far, and will be crucial for future performance given our outlook for 2012.

About Fast Market Research
Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. Representing the world's top research publishers and analysts, we provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available. Our unbiased, expert staff will help you find the right research to fit your requirements and your budget. For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

Browse all Transportation research reports at Fast Market Research

You may also be interested in these related reports:

- United Arab Emirates Freight Transport Report Q4 2012
- United Arab Emirates Autos Report Q3 2012
- United Arab Emirates Commercial Banking Report Q4 2012
- United Arab Emirates Defence & Security Report Q4 2012
- United Arab Emirates Real Estate Report Q4 2012
- United Arab Emirates Foodservice: The Future of Foodservice in United Arab Emirates to 2016
- United Arab Emirates Business Forecast Report Q4 2012
- United Arab Emirates Petrochemicals Report Q4 2012
- United Arab Emirates Hospital Supplies Investment Opportunities, Analysis and Forecasts to 2017
- United Arab Emirates Cardiovascular Devices Investment Opportunities, Analysis and Forecasts to 2017