Trade in toys is bucking the global downturn and showing growth in the GCC, according to a recent press release from BIZ COM. The latest figures available from Dubai Port show that the number of imported toys in the UAE has increased in the last three years, as the re-export rate has dropped during this period. The majority of toys are imported from Asia, the worldwide production facility for toys, while seven percent are imported from Europe and three percent from the US and Canada. The GCC toy market relies heavily on imports due to the weakness of toy production in the region. Some analysts point out that the increased demand for toys, baby accessories and school stationery are related to the population growth in the UAE. While many experts are looking for ways to control population growth in much of the developing world, we can rest assured that executives at toy companies are not among them. |