UAE primary aluminium sector targets growth in Turkey

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently revised the forecast growth for Turkey's economy upwardly to 7.5% in 2011, a ranking that bodes well for Turkey's industrial sector. This is endorsed by the Commodities Research Unit (CRU), which has predicted 20% year-on-year growth in aluminium consumption in Turkey to 847,000 metric tonnes in 2011 (2010: 705,000 metric tonnes). Well-positioned to serve this market are Dubai Aluminium Company Ltd (DUBAL) and Emirates Aluminium Company Ltd (EMAL) , the two primary aluminium smelters in the UAE that boast a combined production capacity of 1.8 million metric tonnes of hot metal per annum.

"Given the UAE's convenient geographic location, and the strong relationships already established within Turkey, we are confident that DUBAL-EMAL can play a growing role here," says Nasser Zainal (General Manager: Marketing & Sales -- GCC, Indian Sub-continent & Middle East).

DUBAL-EMAL marketing and sales team expects 59% growth in demand for products from existing customers in Turkey compared to 2011, currently forecast at 37,000 metric tonnes. "This is a very important market for us, having accounted for about 24,000 metric tonnes in 2010," he says. "Until now, the major share of products exported to Turkey has been foundry alloy, which is used in the manufacture of automotive parts."