Dubai, UAE: More than 100 automotive aftermarket professionals from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are attending a two-day Automechanika Roadshow in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as they look at ways to boost interregional business ties with the vibrant Middle East.

The Automechanika Roadshow to the CIS is making its first stop in Kazakhstan’s capital city Astana today (28 February), before moving onto Tashkent, Uzbekistan tomorrow (1 March), to analyse recent trends and future opportunities in the two vast automotive aftermarkets.

The event is part of the Kazakhstan International Automotive Expo, supported by Automechanika, the world’s leading international automotive trade show brand.

The Automechanika Roadshow is a regular feature ahead of Automechanika Dubai, the Middle East and Africa’s largest automotive aftermarket exhibition, and Automechanika Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s dual platform dedicated to buyers from the Kingdom.

Ahmed Pauwels, the CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Automechanika Dubai, said: “The Automechanika Roadshow to the CIS arrives amid a growing interest in recent years among Central Asian manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, traders, and key buyers to Automechanika Dubai.

“Visitors to the exhibition from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, have increased by 23 per cent over the last five years. They’re committed to doing business at Automechanika Dubai and come with substantial budgets,” he added.

Delegates at the Automechanika Roadshow to the CIS were given a presentation about the trends and prospects of the automotive aftermarket in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the wider Middle East and Africa that come within Automechanika Dubai’s vast footprint.

According to analysts Frost & Sullivan (F&S), the Middle East spare parts market, including tires, batteries and automotive lubricants along with maintenance, mechanical and collision parts, will grow by 4.9 per cent annually, from US$11.7 billion in 2016 to US$14.85 billion in 2021.

The GCC is the highest contributor in Parts Per Vehicle (PPV), estimated at US$403. In Iran, PPV is estimated at US$273, while in the Rest of the Middle East (RoME), which includes Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, PPV stands at US$253. Overall, F&S expects a 2-3 per cent increase in PPV by 2021 across the region.

Saudi Arabia and UAE together dominate with a 73 per cent share of the GCC auto spare parts market according to F&S, while Jordan and Lebanon hold more than 70 per cent market share in the RoME.

While many delegates expressed a keen interest in engaging with the fast-moving Middle East market, awareness in the CIS has been on the rise among regular exhibitors at Automechanika Dubai too.

UAE company Mineral Circles Bearings (MCB) supplies automotive bearings for Japanese, Korean, European, and American car models, and will showcase its range of high load grease and tapered roller bearings at this year’s show, which runs from 7-9 May 2017 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Hassanein Alwan, MCB’s Marketing Director said, “We have an approximate total of AED2 million business in CIS countries and we do see potential growth in these markets.

Now in its 15th edition, Automechanika Dubai 2017 will feature more than 2,000 exhibitors from over 55 countries, and spans six product sections of Parts & Components; Electronics & Systems; Accessories & Customising; Repair & Maintenance; Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning; and Tyres & Batteries.
The annual three-day event returns with its popular Truck Competence initiative, where more than 1,000 exhibitors will showcase their products dedicated to the entire value chain in the truck sector, from truck parts and accessories, to workshop equipment, body repairs and care.

Its global influence is underlined by the presence of more than 20 country pavilions and 35 international trade associations, while 90 per cent of exhibitors, and 51 per cent of visitors are expected to come from outside of the UAE.

Automechanika Dubai 2017 will return with the popular Automechanika Academy – a series of seminars, presentations, and workshops about key issues and regulations that affect the automotive aftermarket, and the African Buyer-Seller Meet, connecting suppliers with buyers from the world’s second largest continent.