UAE primary aluminium sector highlighted at Turkey trade show

A combination of convenient location, extensive product portfolio, existing strong relationships and an established logistic infrastructure places the UAE’s primary aluminium manufacturing sector in a strong position to grow its market share in Turkey, where the Commodities Research Unit (”CRU”) has predicted 20 per cent year-on-year growth in aluminium consumption to 847,000 metric tonnes in 2011. Aiming to leverage this opportunity, Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (“DUBAL”) and Emirates Aluminium Company Limited (“EMAL”) – the UAE’s two primary aluminium smelters, with a combined production capacity of 1.8 million metric tonnes of hot metal per annum – exhibited jointly at ALU EXPO 2011, held in Istanbul from 13 to 16 October this year.

According to DUBAL’s Nasser Zainal (General Manager: Marketing & Sales — GCC, Indian Sub-continent & Middle East), the DUBAL-EMAL exhibition stand successfully promoted the two individual businesses; as well as their combined portfolio of premium purity, high quality value-added products (comprising high purity sow and ingot, extrusion billet, foundry alloy, busbar and anode bar, and sheet ingot). The DUBAL-EMAL stand also featured DUBAL’s in-house developed, proprietary DX Reduction Technology that has been implemented at industrial scale at both DUBAL and EMAL; and which offers enhanced energy efficiency and productivity levels yet lower environmental emissions than comparative technologies.

Zainal adds that DUBAL-EMAL’s participation at ALU EXPO 2011 – the first time at this forum – was indicative of the companies’ intentions in the region. “Turkey is a very important market for us, having accounted for about 24,000 metric tonnes in 2010,” he explains. “Moreover, our sales forecast is 37,000 metric tonnes for this year. In 2012 we’re expecting 59 per cent year-on-year growth in demand for DUBAL-EMAL products from our existing customers in Turkey, to 59,000 metric tonnes.”

Traditionally, the major share of products exported to Turkey has been foundry alloy, used in automotive parts manufacturing. “Our main objective at ALU EXPO 2011 was to raise awareness of our wider portfolio – specifically billet for use in construction, industrial, transportation and forging in automotive industries,” confirms Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei (CEO: EMAL). “This reflected our ambition to expand DUBAL-EMAL’s business into Turkey’s manufacturing and construction sectors. Judging by the volume of traffic to our stand and enquiries received, our efforts were fruitful.”

An entirely state-owned enterprise, DUBAL operates a one million metric tonne per annum primary aluminium smelter at Jebel Ali, Dubai — one of the largest single-site operations of its kind in the world — and in 2010 produced 1,002,414 metric tonnes of hot metal. The company is renowned internationally for its premium purity, high quality products and services; as well as its commitment to sustainable development through conscious efforts to maximise the health and safety people, reduce the impact of its operations on the environment, and invest in the social and economic development of the community. Dedicated programmes support the Emiratization goals of the UAE, including targeted recruitment, skills development, management training and strategic career planning. Approximately 92 per cent of DUBAL’s annual production is exported globally.

A green-field development, EMAL is located at Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi, and is owned jointly by DUBAL and Mubadala Development Company (in equal shareholding).  Tthe 756 reduction cells in EMAL Phase I, with a total capacity of 750,000 metric tonnes per annum, were energized between 1 December 2009 and 31 December 2010 — with full production being reached four months ahead of schedule, yet within budget. EMAL Phase II was announced in July 2011. The new 444-cell potline, together with a technology upgrade of the existing cells, will increase EMAL’s annual production capacity to 1.3 million metric tonnes by 2014.

EMAL has a strong reputation for sound safety management, wellbeing programmes for its employees and adopting global best practices to minimize its environmental footprint — the latter entrenched through the implementation of DUBAL’s DX Reduction Technology. These attributes are complemented by initiatives to harness Emirati talent through job-creation, engaging the community in corporate activities and celebrating the national and cultural heritage of the UAE.