Latest trends in GCC pipes, tubes industry

By: Zainab Mansoor

Demand for steel products is rising by as much as 6% annually in the GCC market and this emerging scenario was duly noted by exhibitors and visitors alike during the Tekno/Tube Arabia 2011. The 10th edition of the International Trade Fair for Industrial Machinery, Machine Tools, Tubes & Pipes Industry was held on 8-11 January 2011 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, where it marked its special place as a leading exhibition in the region for machinery, metalworking, machine tools, pipes & tubes.

Mr. Satish Khanna, general manager of Al Fajer Information and Services, organiser of Tekno Tube Arabia 2011 with Messe Dusseldorf GmbH as the overseas associate partner noted that: “The tube and pipe manufactures in the GCC look at the region as one market and the big advantage of this market is the absence of customs barriers. While the present demand is met through imports, leading manufacturers of pipes in the Gulf region are looking at reducing the dependence on imports by increasing the production of tubes and pipes every year. This would lead to self sufficiency at some time in the future, creating more job opportunities and boosting national economies.”
One third of GCC’s requirements in tubes are supplied by Europe, India and China, according to figures released. The United States and Germany have gained sizable market share in the GCC and they have the capacity to deliver pipes according to specific customer requirements. At Tekno Tube, some large European, Indian and Greater China companies participated. In particular, exhibitors from Europe, India and Taiwan occupied about 40% of the total space.

Steel production accelerates

Steel, which is used to manufacture pipes and tubes was highlighted at the three-day show. According to figures released by Al Fajer Information and Services, there are 67 steel plants in the Arab region valued at Dh 10.3 billion (about US$2.8 billion) and the demand for steel is rising at 5 to 6 percent annually. It is predicted that half of the world’s steel production will be done in Arab countries by 2012.

The local steel market has been witnessing impressive growth due to the widespread availability of energy n the UAE to support the manufacturing of steel products. The building blocks of the UAE’s economic development are the significant core industrial and infrastructure sectors such as the steel industry, according to Mr. Khanna. Steel manufacturers in Arab  countries are exerting efforts to integrate and consolidate their position in the face of growing worldwide industry trend of mergers and acquisitions.

As far as the tubes industry is concerned, the Middle East has witnessed the launch of a series of new tubes plants one of which is the Empower Logstor Insulated Pipes Systems (ELIPS), the UAE’s largest pre-insulated pipe manufacturing facility in Jebel Ali.

EXHIBITORS FEEDBACK

HFD Electronic Spare Parts LLC distributes high-power, high frequency electronic components. “our presence at Tekno Tube is in support for pipe manufacturers who are using induction welding processes and to these manufacturers, we offer a wide range of ferrite cores and impeder casing,” according to Sales Manager Mr. Sheraff Abootty. For welder maintenance, HFD also offers oscillator tubes, high per capacitors, induction welding coils and semiconductor modules.

 The company has been operating for the past 15 years and has served as one-stop shop for spare parts to serve steel pipe manufacturers. HFD is a distributor for leading brands including Thales, Amperex, Mahindra Hinoday, Draloric, EHE, amongst others.

“We have participated in Tekno Tube in the past and this is our third time to do so. This is an excellent venue for us to serve our existing customers, as well as develop new clients,” according to

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