ALUMINIUM MIDDLE EAST 2015 to attract over 200 exhibitors from 25 countries

The region’s largest aluminium event brings together producers, suppliers and investors under one roof

Gulf aluminium investments to reach $55 billion by 2020

Gulf aluminium production to hit 5 million tons by 2015

Dubai, UAE - 11 August, 2014: The Middle East aluminium industry will come under the global spotlight with the fourth edition of the ALUMINIUM MIDDLE EAST exhibition, which will be held from 14-16 April, 2015 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC). Expected to attract over 200 exhibitors from 25 countries, the event will bring together top regional and international producers, suppliers and investors.

Held under the theme of “Forging Connections… Building Possibilities”, the exhibition will help the aluminium industry reach a new level of extraordinary growth and cement its position as a powerhouse of the world aluminium industry.

The biggest exhibition of its kind in the region, ALUMINIUM MIDDLE EAST is the ideal platform for the industry, bringing together industry stalwarts, producers, manufacturers, suppliers, investors and technical developers under one roof.

Harbor Intelligence, a firm specialized in global aluminium markets’ trends, analysis and forecasts, estimates Gulf investments in the aluminium sector to reach $55 billion by 2020, compared to $30 billion in 2011, thanks to smelters’ expansion and new projects in the region.

Daniyal Qureshi, Group Exhibition Director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East, organisers of the event, said that the biennial exhibition had proved itself to be a must-attend event for networking, building professional relationships, identifying investment opportunities and getting acquainted with the latest technologies and best practices from around the globe.

The number of visitors at the 2015 edition is also expected to reach 4,000, a 14% increase over the last edition, which attracted 3,523 visitors.

According to Gulf Aluminium Council (GAC), an industry body that represents the sector’s interests regionally and internationally, aluminium production volume in the Gulf region is expected to increase to 5 million tons by 2015, which accounts for 17.5 per cent of the total global output, compared to 3.7 million tons in 2012 or 11 per cent of the total world production. 

Statistical data shows that the Gulf aluminium industry is growing by 8.4 per cent annually, compared to an average annual global expansion of 3.5 per cent, making the Middle East the fastest growing aluminium market in the world.

The aluminium industry contributes significantly to the region-wide efforts to diversify economies beyond oil and gas. With widening scope, facilities and capabilities, the sector has helped increase foreign trade, create more jobs and expand regional economies. 

Spanning through a wide range of industries, including transportation, aerospace, aviation, packaging and construction, aluminium is a prerequisite for industrialization in the Gulf region.

The Gulf aluminium industry has several competitive advantages over its counterparts across the globe. These include huge reserves of raw materials, energy and natural gas.

The region is not only one of the key aluminium producers in the world, but is also among major consumption markets of the metal.

Aluminium smelters in the Gulf region are modern and use sophisticated techniques that consume less energy, enabling them to reduce cost, achieve price flexibility, and increase their competitiveness in global markets.

The Gulf aluminium industry also benefits from the presence of a world-class infrastructure network, cheaper skilled labor, unique geographic location and advanced logistics.

Gulf aluminium production reached 3,739,290 tons, in 2012 compared to 3,488,357 tons in 2011 and is expected to increase to 5 million tons by 2015, making the Gulf region the biggest single player worldwide.

ALUMINIUM MIDDLE EAST plays an important role in fulfilling the needs and interests of exhibitors, visitors and delegates. It paves the way for building professional relationships and alliances, besides creating partnerships between energy sources, smelters, mines and logistics companies.

These partnerships offer an opportunity for the Middle East, in general, and the Gulf region, in particular, to consolidate its position as a major player in the global market, which is expected to reach up to 70 million tons by 2020.