Gulf aluminium output seen at 5m tonnes

The five Gulf smelters – Alba, Dubal, Emal, Sohar and Qatalum – produced more than 3.6 million tonnes of aluminium in 2011 and will reach around five million tonnes by 2014 when Ma’aden and Emal phase 2 are completed, a report said.

During the year, Emal announced phase 2 expansion, Ma’aden started construction of the Bauxite mine and the Alumina refinery, while Qatalum completed its rump up programme.

Dubal production exceeded one million tonnes for the second year running, Alba reached its highest level of production and Sohar reached the benchmark of producing 1 million tonnes of Aluminium since commencement in June 2008, added the report by Gulf Aluminium Council.

In 2011, a number of aluminium downstreams were established in Oman, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Above all, the Gulf region has truly become a major centre for the world aluminium business and a significant contributor to the regional economy, the report said.

This is evident by its continuous growth and the increasing number of organisations with aluminium related business establishing their facilities in the Gulf, a trend that is being encouraged by the Gulf Aluminium Council.

With an increase in world demand for aluminium at an average of 6 per cent annually, the demand from the Gulf is expected to grow and will drive the Gulf producers to expand their production capacity even further.

The world demand for aluminium is estimated to reach over 70 million tonnes by the year 2020 from 40 million tonnes a year currently which would require an additional 30 million tonnes of aluminium compared to current annual production.

Almost 80 per cent of the Aluminium produced in the Gulf is exported to different parts of the world firmly placing the Gulf in a prominent position to meet both local and world demand.