Middle East aluminium production growing at impressive rates

Aluminium production in the Middle East is growing at more than double the global average rate, and the trend is expected to continue, according to an industry expert.

“The region is witnessing an 8.4 per cent annual growth in aluminium production compared to the global average of 3.5 per cent,” Reed Exhibitions’ group exhibition director Daniyal Qureshi, told Khaleej Times ahead of the fourth edition of the Aluminium Middle East event, which starts tomorrow.

The UAE is the world’s fourth-largest aluminium producer. China ranked top followed by Russia and Canada in terms of production. The UAE produces almost half of the total aluminium production of the Gulf region. Last year, the country’s total production reached 2.4 million tonnes and exports worth $3.9 billion, according to Qureshi, while Gulf countries’ total aluminium production recorded at nearly five million tonnes in 2014, he said. GCC countries export almost 70 per cent of the total production.

It is expected that Gulf countries will account for nearly 20 per cent of the world’s total aluminium production this year, Qureshi said.

Talking about the forthcoming Aluminium Middle East, he mentioned that the industry is growing year on year and the show is also growing significantly. “This year, we expect more than 4,000 trade visitors compared to 3,523 visitors at the last edition,” he said.

Organised by Reed Exhibitions Middle East, the three-day biennial show — which was launched in 2009 — will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and will have a participation of over 200 exhibitors from 25 countries.

Aluminium Middle East has grown significantly since the beginning of the show in 2009 in terms of exhibitors. Providing statistics, Qureshi said that the show started with 165 exhibitors and over 3,000 professionals visited the first show.

To be held under the slogan “Forging Connections, Building Possibilities”, the exhibition will help the region’s aluminium industry reach a new level of extraordinary growth. It is the biggest specialised exhibition for the aluminium industry in the region. The event will highlight the Middle East’s future role as the world’s powerhouse in aluminium production.

Also, the Middle East Aluminium Summit, being organised by Metalworld at the sidelines of Aluminium Middle East 2015, will discuss market behavior, emerging applications and new technologies associated with this “21st-century metal”.

Responding to a question, Qureshi said that there is a potential to organise the show on annual basis. “We are considering this proposal and we will speak to industry people at the event.”

He added: “We have got 150 buyers from the Middle East for the show. We are looking at more 500 plus pre-scheduled meetings between buyers in the Middle East and global suppliers.”

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