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Surging domestic demand - The demand
for aluminium extrusion in the Middle East is expected to reach an
average of 550,000 metric tonnes per year in 2008, with the
majority of the demand coming from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
and Kuwait. |
Capacity build up is likely to exceed
3.75 MPTA by 2010 when the new smelters are commissioned in Oman,
Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and when the planned expansion programme
of ALBA is implemented. The capacity will further increase if the
long-term plan of DUBAL to achieve 1.5 Mt/yr by 2011 is realised. |
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The region accounts for about seven
per cent of the 38 million tonnes of the metal produced on the
world market each year. |
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There are several major smelters
coming up in the region. Alumina supplies account for 45 per cent
of smelters' operational costs while power is responsible for
about 25 per cent. Most GCC producers will have to import raw
materials for production but the energy reserves in the region
will ensure the GCC remains competitive in the world of
aluminium industry over the next decade. |
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REGIONAL PRODUCTION & EXPANSIONS -
Aluminium smelting is a capital-intensive, technology-driven
industry concentrated in a few relatively dominant companies.
New capacity, needed to replace closed capacity and to meet
increasing future demand, is expected to be largely developed in
energy-rich areas. Aluminium production, which was once confined to Western countries, is now shifting to
the developing world. Within the developing world, it is shifting
to those countries that either possess the
raw materials or the energy resources to produce aluminium -
namely the GCC region with its abundant energy resources. The GCC
region has two established smelters in
the UAE and Bahrain. Upon completion of the EMAL & Ruwais mega
projects, the UAE will become the GCC's top aluminium producer. |
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Due to the expansion in the
construction sector, several extrusion plants have been set up all
over GCC states. There are 22 major extrusion plants in the region
with a total production capacity of 300,000 TPA, and the overall
capacity utilisation exceeds 88 per cent. Most of the plants have
anodising, powder-coating and painting facilities. About 60 per
cent of the extruded products are used in GCC and the balance is
exported to international markets. The number of rms for aluminum
finished product industries amounts to 496 with investments
exceeding 950 million US dollars, and a labour force of more than
24,000. |
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Neighbouring country Iran's aluminium
production is expected to reach 750,000 tonnes per annum by 2011. |
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