Dubai: India remained Dubai's top export destination with transaction worth Dh 3.43 billion, as the emirate's total non-oil trade during the first nine months of 2006 grew by 10 per cent to Dh 231 billion.

China, with exports worth Dh19.80 billion, tops the list of the leading trading partners followed by India, with an export bill of Dh 17.10 billion.

Imports formed the largest part of Dubai's non-oil foreign trade reaching Dh 158.78 billion, with diamonds, precious stones, semi-precious stones and precious metals topping the list with imports worth Dh 34.46 billion.

Industrial equipment, machinery, electronics and spare parts accounted for Dh 20.44 billion of imports, followed by the automotive industry, at Dh 16.02 billion.

A report compiled by Dubai World's Department of Statistics attributed the increase to general cross-sector growth in the economy, and particularly in the real estate market.

The diamonds, precious stones and precious metals trade also led the export list recording transaction valued at AED 3.23 billion, followed by aluminum and related products at Dh 1.93 billion and sugar and confectionery items fetched AED 860 million in export orders.

The report placed China with exports worth Dh 19.80 billion at the top of the pile of exporters to Dubai, followed by India (Dh17.10 billion). Other major exporter to Dubai are the US (Dh 11.50 billion), Germany (Dh11.14 billion), and Japan (Dh10.66 billion).