Trade Arabia reported that a high level delegation from Dubai Aluminum Company Limited and Emirates Aluminum Company Limited took part in a major industry conference in Spain to promote the UAE’s primary aluminum industry.
The strong UAE presence ensured excellent exposure of the Dubal and EMAL brands to the hundreds of senior executives from the aluminum industry across the world who attended the 'Commodity Research Unit’s 16th World Aluminum Conference held recently in Barcelona.
Dubai and Emal, the key players in the UAE’s primary aluminum industry, showcased their potential to supply metal to end-users in Europe. Several platforms were leveraged for this purpose, namely a combined stand in the exhibition component alongside the conference to promote both companies.
Mr Sultan Al Sabri Dubal GM Marketing & Sales: Europe & North America, delivered a presentation entitled “The outlook for the Middle Eastern Aluminum industry in light of current political turmoil” during the opening keynote session.
Mr Al Sabri said that the Arab Spring had brought unique challenges such as reduced demand for primary aluminum, higher costs of doing business logistics issues and potential risk-aversion of inward investment and financing.
He said that by contrast the accelerated social and infrastructural development proposed across the region in the aftermath of the crisis is expected to bring increased demand and thus good growth. Moreover, new markets are emerging within the greater Mena region, as well as farther a field.
Mr Walid Al Attar Dubai executive VP Marketing & Sales and VP Marketing & Sales of Emal said that “The European market is nevertheless of strategic importance to both Dubal and Emal. Having made our first forays into the region 15 years ago in 1996, Dubal has since built long term partnership relationships with customers that have driven consistent growth over the years.”
He said that as a result, almost 230,000 tonnes of Dubal metal reached Europe’s shores in 2010. A further 22,000 tonnes of metal produced by Emal was also sold in Europe during 2010. He added that we anticipate selling about 445,000 tonnes of primary aluminum into Europe during 2011 of which some 194,000 tonnes will be from Emal.
(Sourced from Trade Arabia)
