UAE aluminium smelters confirm long term commitment to Japan

The Japanese market has since 1980 been of strategic importance to the UAE's primary aluminium sector. Dubai Aluminium Company Limited one of the world's largest single site smelters has sold its finished aluminium products to more than 30 customers in Japan for three decades in substantially larger volumes than most other regions where the company does business.

With the advent of Emirates Aluminium Company Limited the green field smelter development where Phase I is currently in ramp up phase and in which DUBAL and Mubadala Development Company each have 50% stake excellent potential exists to increase sales volumes to Japan while building strategic alliances and strengthening business partnerships.

Reflecting these intentions, a senior management delegation from DUBAL and EMAL led by Mr Abdulla JM Kalban hosted a reception event for about 120 industry players, media representatives and dignitaries including Mr H E Saeed Ali Al Nuwais ambassador of the UAE to Japan on November 8 this year. Mr Walid Al Attar executive VP of Marketing & Sales DUBAL & EMAL took advantage of the opportunity to promote primary aluminium sales into this key market by outlining the capabilities and combined production capacities of both companies and sharing details of the future growth strategies developed by DUBAL and EMAL's joint Marketing & Sales and Logistics departments.

Mr Kalban said that "In 2010, we expect to ship more than 180,000 metric tonnes of finished aluminium products from the UAE to Japan. Approximately 144,000 tonnes will be exported by DUBAL mostly in the form of re melt foundry products then extrusion billets and high purity metal and a further estimated 40,000 tonnes of re melt standard purity products will be shipped from EMAL. The total export volume to Japan from the 2 companies is forecast at about 234,000 tonnes in 2011."

He said that as a start up operation, EMAL will leverage DUBAL's technical know how and successful market strategy which is to become the preferred supplier to its chosen customers. Our customer service philosophy and focus on our core competencies remain unchanged. This includes adhering to the highest quality standards in our products and services; production flexibility to meet our customers' needs on time delivery and operational competitiveness.

Mr Kalban said that importantly, DUBAL and EMAL's products are complementary. Comprising high purity sow and ingots, extrusion billets, sheet ingot and remelt ingots the result is a broadening of the overall metal offering to the market. Although both companies produce extrusion billet, differences in the actual range of products manufactured by DUBAL and EMAL allow greater flexibility in billet production, plus the potential to introduce new alloys. Moreover, the combined extrusion billet capacity of 1.1 million metric tonnes per annum will make DUBAL and EMAL the largest independent supplier of extrusion billets to global markets.

He said that the inclusion of sheet ingot in EMAL's product mix will create new business prospects by opening avenues in the flat rolled product business. We foresee major growth opportunities in this sector as a result of growth in consumption as well as evolutionary trends in the industry. Our combined operations will therefore be well-placed to fulfill more metal needs in Japan and elsewhere in the world giving great potential for growth in our individual and collective market share.