MUSCAT, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The year-on-year demand for aluminium in the Middle East region touched 6 percent in the first quarter of 2017, which was the highest among different regions across the globe, according to a top-level official at Sohar Aluminium.
Gulf aluminium producers have enjoyed an enormous growth in demand for aluminium due to a surge in infrastructure development, Said bin Mohammed Al Masoudi, said, while addressing the Arab International Aluminium Conference (Arabal) conference here on Tuesday.
The Middle East region accounts for 10 percent of total global aluminium production, added Al Masoudi.
"International industry forecasts anticipate that the aluminium market will double within the next 10 years. This growth, however, is dependent on a number of factors, including emerging market trends, innovation, and the changing nature of tariff systems," he noted.
Global demand for aluminium outstrips supply by 1.8 million tonnes per annum, which is a positive sign for producers to raise capacity, added Abdullaj Elzhar Hassan, chief executive officer of Egyptian Aluminium Company.
China accounts for around 50 percent of global aluminium production.
