During the course of last week, I’ve met with a number of UAE buyers and end-users across sectors including steel, building materials and retail. It was interesting to hear from them all on their need to explore other markets outside of China to procure goods as a result of COVID-19.
They all expressed interest in Western products, specifically engaging with UK manufacturers and distributors that have their supply chains entrenched elsewhere in the world, where there is less disruption.
Whilst it remains unclear when COVID-19 will pass, it is business as usual in the UAE where companies are managing the issue in a different way by rethinking their sourcing patterns and looking for continuity and certainty of supply.
This development presents an unexpected upside for UK companies and we will continue to look for such opportunitiesto boost British exports.