Gulf Region to Increase Investment in Aluminum Processing

The GOIC official recently stated at the 12th Arab International Aluminum Association that the Gulf region will increase investment in aluminum processing. The Gulf is an important primary aluminum production base in the world. After the primary aluminum projects in Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain are completed, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will account for 5% of the world’s primary aluminum production from the current 5%. Increased to 14%, while the downstream aluminum processing area is relatively weak, aluminum is still net imports, of which Saudi Arabia imports the largest number. In 2005, a total of 240,000 tons of aluminum extrusions were produced in the Gulf region, and the demand for aluminum extrusions is expected to reach 500,000 tons/year in the coming years, as is the case with aluminum strips. Therefore, GOIC believes that there is an urgent need for the development of high value-added aluminum processing products in the Gulf region, which will increase exports of aluminum materials. There are 15 aluminum cable manufacturers, 1 aluminum powder plant, 1 aluminum wheel factory, 2 aluminum strip factories, 23 aluminum extrusion plants and 18 aluminum foundries in the Gulf region. There is no aluminum can manufacturing plant. Most of the wool needed for production needs to be imported, and it lacks advanced casting equipment for the production of automotive parts.