Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (Dubal) continues to operate at its full capacity of 960,000 metric tonnes per year, while pro-actively investing in future growth opportunities amidst the ongoing crisis, said a top executive.

Dubai is the largest primary aluminium producer with a captive power station, and one of the lowest-cost producers in the sector.

Walid Al Attar, Dubal vice president (Marketing & Sales), said the company saw a golden opportunity in the current economic situation to get closer to its customers by getting a better understanding of their requirements in terms of demand patterns and other parameters.

“For example, based on the fact that 70 per cent of the growth in aluminium demand in recent years has come from China, we see the Chinese market as a major driver of global growth in aluminium demand and associated price improvements,” said Al Attar.

“Accordingly, Dubal will once again participate in the Aluminium China 2009 exhibition, which takes place in Shanghai from June 30 to 2 July this year.”

Rated as the most important and comprehensive aluminium industry event in China, the annual Aluminium China exhibition offers a definitive international networking and trading platform where professional visitors can meet with suppliers of raw materials, semi-finished and finished products, surface treatment and producers of machinery, plant and equipment for aluminium processing and manufacturing, light-metals trade and service providers.

“With all this on offer, Aluminium China presents a perfect opportunity for Dubal to view the latest aluminium technologies while showcasing our products and services to the 10,000 people who are expected to visit the exhibition,” Al Attar added.

Dubal’s presence at expo is particularly important in the light of ongoing negotiations between the GCC and China regarding the formulation of a free trade agreement, he pointed out.

Initiated by the GCC in 2008, the negotiations to date have entailed representatives of both regions meeting on two occasions; with both sides currently reviewing the packages in terms of products, services and other joint co-operations.

“Negotiations are still at an early stage, and may take a year or so to conclude,” Al Attar noted. “Dubal is playing an active role in the negotiations as access to this important market will be vastly improved should the current duties be dropped,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service