The value of exports through Abu Dhabi's ports rose by 36.6 per in the last quarter of 2018 as business activity increased in the emirate, according to government figures. Exports climbed to Dh17.2bn for the period, up Dh3.8bn from the third quarter of last year, state news agency Wam said, citing data from Abu Dhabi Statistics Centre. The UAE, which aims to increase its non-oil exports across the globe is turning to its Asia-Pacific partners to grow foreign trade, which accounted for about 42 per cent of the country’s total non-oil trade in the first nine months of 2018. The Asia-Pacific region was the biggest trading partner of the Emirates, pushing the country’s total non-oil trade to Dh460.6bn during the period, Abdullah Al Saleh, the undersecretary of UAE’s Ministry of Economy said earlier this month. The UAE's non-oil sector economy advanced slightly in November thanks to an increase in output and new orders. Higher exports during the period contributed to the expansion in the non-oil sector, with new export orders growing at the fastest pace in four months. Business sector exports registered year-on-year growth of 32.6 per cent, government sector exports increased more than seven-fold and the individual exports sector expanded by 43.3 per cent, according to the report. Pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, vehicles, aircraft and associated transport equipment and live animals accounted for 91.9 per cent of total exports by individuals in the UAE. Exports from businesses during the last quarter of 2018 came primarily from vehicles and aircraft and associated transport equipment, base metals and plastics, which contributed 62 per cent of the total of the sector. The value of imports through the emirate's ports decreased by 0.3 per cent to Dh27.5bn. Business sector imports dropped by 3.3 per cent to Dh840.4 million and the individual sector decreased by 53.1 per cent to Dh207.9bn. Government sector imports, however, grew 61.2 per cent to Dh957.3m for the period. Imports values decreased by Dh1.4bn or 4.8 per cent during the last quarter of 2018 compared with the third quarter. Vehicles and aircraft equipment, animal products and textiles accounted for 69.6 per cent of total imports.