Qatalum, has wrapped up its participation in Aluminium China 2011, which took place from 13 to 15 July 2011 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in Shanghai, China, and of which it was a sponsor.
Aluminium China is dedicated to the whole supply chain in the aluminium industry and its major application fields, showcased the latest innovations in products and cutting-edge technologies to seamlessly combine the mighty demand existing in Asia and the fast development in emerging aluminium consumers.
The 2011 event gathered together professionals and decision makers from the aluminium-related industries – including manufacturing and processing, building and construction, automotive and transport, packaging, plant and machinery manufacturing, metalworking, as well as the electronic industries – providing an international platform for suppliers of aluminium raw material, semi-finished and finished products, surface treatment and producers of machinery, plant and equipment for aluminium processing and manufacturing, light-metals trade, consultancy and expert opinions to come together to network and share information.
Aluminium China is an important annual industry event that brings together international industry players, and allows Qatalum to meet peers from around the globe to discuss opportunities and challenges, as well as to exchange information and receive updates on what is happening within the industry worldwide. The aluminium industry is fast-growing, and events such as this that bring together everyone involved are vital to its continued growth. The number of emerging aluminium producers, coupled with the increased global demand for the metal, particularly in Asia .
The Middle East is emerging as a significant new primary aluminium producer, GCC countries are rich in the energy resources required to produce aluminium, which also lowers the production cost in the region significantly. Over the past ten years, GCC member states have begun implementing long-term strategies that aim to develop the region’s aluminium industry, and the region is now well positioned to be one of the world’s main aluminium producers.
In 2000, the GCC share of global aluminium production was 1.8 million metric tonnes per annum. By 2008, this figure had risen to 2.2 million metric tonnes per annum (5.4% of global production). And according to the latest statistical report from the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), in 2010 global primary aluminium production reached a little over 24 million metric tonnes, 2.7 million of that from GAC countries, while the first five months of 2011 saw around 10.5 million metric tonnes of primary aluminium produced, 1.39 million of it in GAC countries (up from 1.02 million metric tonnes produced during the same period in 2010).
Qatalum was constructed as part of the Qatar National Vision 2030, and the smelter has an important role to play in the country’s economic development. With a first phase production capacity of 585,000 metric tonnes per year, Qatalum will make Qatar responsible for a significant portion of GCC production.
