According to GfK Temax, in the second quarter of 2016 the UAE technical consumer goods market registered a decline, compared to the same period in 2015 – down by 12.7 percent. The consumer electronics and information technology sectors both saw double-digit falls. The only category to report an increase in the quarter was the small domestic appliances sector, up by 3.7 percent.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: TECHNICAL CONSUMER GOODS
(SALES VALUE – TREND)
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Major domestic appliances
The MDA market fell by 6.1 percent in Q2 2016, compared to the second quarter of 2915. All categories recorded negative results, with the exception of cooking products and microwave ovens, both of which reported marginal growth in Q2 2016. The two largest segments – cooling products and washing machines – registered falls of 7.7 percent and 13.5 percent, respectively.
Small domestic appliances
Overall, the SDA sector grew in Q2 2016 – up by 3.7 percent, compared to Q2 2015. Demand for kitchen appliances, hot beverage makers, air treatment equipment, and hair care products all recorded positive numbers. Sales of food preparation equipment increased by double digits. This was helped by the low-oil fryers segment which continued to perform well.
Consumer electronics
The CE market recorded a fall of 13 percent, compared to Q2 2015. Although many categories witnessed double-digit declines, there was marginal growth in the audio segments – docking/mini speakers, loud-speakers, headphones, and portable media players. Sales in the largest segment of the sector – panel TVs – fell by 15.9 percent. However, there was increased demand in the ultra-high definition (UHD) TVs, and smart TVs (without 3D) categories.
Photography
In Q2 2016, the sector generated a fall of 5.8 percent, compared to Q2 2015. Sales of digital cameras – the largest category – declined by 7.2 percent, while the lenses segment reported modest growth (up by 1.5 percent). The mirrorless cameras segment grew by 29.3 percent (in value terms), and the single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras product group maintained a sales value comparable to that registered in Q2 2015.
Information Technology
In Q2 2016, the IT sector declined by 28.6 percent, compared to the same quarter in 2015. Key categories such as mobile computing products, desktop computers, and mediatablets, all saw double-digit declines. However, there were increases in sales of “2-in-1” devices, keying devices, pointing devices, and external storage devices.
Telecommunications
UAE’s TC sector declined by 7.3 percent in Q2 2016, compared to Q2 2015. Sales in the phablets and the core wearables segments continued to grow – up by 8.5 percent and 347.1 percent, respectively. However, a fall was registered in the smartphones category which declined by 11.1 percent in Q2 2016. Within this category, there was a 14.4 percent growth for models with larger screen sizes (5 inches and above).
Office equipment and consumables
The UAE market of office equipment and consumables registered a decline of 2.9 percent in the second quarter of 2016, compared to the same period in 2015. Sales of multifunctional devices (MFDs) and laser cartridges improved – up by 1.7 percent and 15.2 percent, respectively. Contrary to the trends in printing hardware, inkjet cartridges registered a double-digit decline in Q2 2016, compared to Q2 2015.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: TECHNICAL CONSUMER GOODS
(SALES VALUE)
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