UAE well represented at aluminium exhibition in China

The joint participation of Dubai Aluminium DUBAL and Emirates Aluminium EMAL at the annual ALUMINIUM China 2012 exhibition, which took place in Shanghai from 6 to 8 June, achieved its overriding objectives namely to raise awareness of the UAE’s growing primary aluminium sector among customers in greater Asia; and to position the two companies to pursue opportunities in the region.

So says Mohamed Qanbar General Manager, Marketing & Sales: Asia, who reports that a significant number of people, comprising both existing and potential new customers, visited the DUBAL-EMAL stand. “The Far East and ASEAN regions represent major export markets for the premium purity, high quality primary aluminium produced in the UAE,” explains Qanbar. “Our strategy of showcasing the two companies and promote their product portfolio attracted much interest, such that we are confident of sustaining and growing our market share in these regions. ALUMINIUM China also presented a perfect opportunity for us to promote DUBAL’s proprietary, high-amperage DX and DX+ Reduction Technologies; to view the latest aluminium technologies; and to network at industry level.”

DUBAL produces billets for construction, industrial, transportation and forging purposes in automotive industries; high-purity aluminium ingots for use in the electronics and aerospace industries; and foundry alloy ingots, which are absorbed primarily by the automotive sector. EMAL’s product portfolio also includes extrusion billets for construction and transportation applications; foundry ingots, used in the automotive sector; and sheet ingots, which are primarily destined for the packaging industry, lithographic sheets and the automotive industry.

Qanbar goes on to say that DUBAL and EMAL already hold a strong position in the Asian markets, bolstered by an established sales infrastructure. “In 2011, DUBAL and EMAL sold a collective 764,538 metric tonnes of primary aluminium products to customers in greater Asia accounting for 40 per cent of their combined production of 1.87 million metric tonnes,” he explains. “The major share remains value added products i.e. billet and foundry, with a portion of normal high aluminium grade metal as well, plus DUBAL’s super high purity metal which is dedicated for the Far East market.”

The presence of the UAE smelters at ALUMINIUM China 2012 was particularly pertinent given ongoing negotiations between the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC region and China regarding the formulation of a Free Trade Agreement FTA. Qanbar advises that both DUBAL and EMAL are playing active roles in the negotiations as access to this important market will be vastly improved should the current duties be dropped.