To meet the acute shortage of steel mammoth steel plants are mushrooming across the GCC.
More than $18 billion (about Dh66.11 billion) is being invested in 46 steel manufacturing plants throughout the Arabian Gulf in an attempt to close the widening gap between supply and demand for steel. "While there is talk
of a slowdown in other parts of the world, the growth in the Middle East manufacturing base continues to expand with demand for steel far outstripping supply," said Spencer
Felix, Exhibition Manager of the Middle East Manufacturing Exhibition (Memex), which takes place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from November 23 to 25.
"In the race to plug the supply gap a swathe of new steel plant projects as well as expansion of existing plants have
been unveiled across the region with huge potential business opportunities for industry stakeholders," said Felix.
According to the database of research company Proleads, which monitors major construction projects across the region from initial study to completion, Saudi Arabia with
17 and the United Arab Emirates with 16 are leading the way in steel plant projects individually varying in value from $2 billion (about Dh7.2 billion) to $15 million (about Dh55 million). Oman has six steel plants on the books, Bahrain four and Qatar three.
Topping the list of projects is an integrated complex of steel factories in Saudi Arabia that will turn out 500,000 tonnes a year of railway track, three million tonnes a year of iron and steel processing and production plant and 800,000 tonnes a year of pipeline manufacturing plant.
Of the top ten projects, four are in Saudi Arabia, three in the UAE, two in Qatar and one in Oman.
Memex provides a unique platform for suppliers to network and conduct business with organisations currently producing or manufacturing in the Middle East or with plans to do so. After its successful debut last year, Memex has established itself as the region's leading manufacturing exhibition.
New this year will be Industryscape, a complementary vertical show that runs in parallel with Memex.
Industryscape will be the region's first dedicated trade show for industrial, manufacturing and production real estate.
Managed by the organisers of Cityscape, the world's largest business-to-business real estate show, will bring together international investors, developers, investment authorities, leading architects, designers and consultants.
Top ten GCC steel plants according to the database of Proleads
Al Tuwairqi Group Integrated Steel Complex, Saudi Arabia
The $2 billion (about Dh7.34 billion) planned project is for an integrated complex of steel factories in Dammam industrial area.
Qatar Steel Company Mesaieed Integrated Steel Facility
The $1.5 billion (about Dh5.5 billion) project currently being executed is for an integrated steel facility with a hot briquette iron plant and a flat rolled steel products plant.
Saudi Iron & Steel Company, Jubail Mill Expansion 3
The $1 billion (about Dh3.67 billion) planned project calls for expanding steel production by one million tonnes per year.
Sojitz Corporation Steel Plant, UAE
The $1 billion planned project in Fujairah is for a plant that will turn iron ore pellets into steel billets with capacity of 1.5 million tonnes a year.
Essar Group Steel Plant, Qatar
The $800 million (about Dh2.9 billion) project currently being carried out is for a 1.5 million ton per year steel rolling mill plant and a one million tonnes per year hot briquette steel.
Al Ruya Industries Hamriya Steel Plant, UAE
This $700 million (about Dh2.5 billion) project under study is for an integrated steel making facility.
Sohar Industrial Port Company Iron Ore Pellet Plant, Oman
The $700 million project is being carried out for an iron ore pellet plant. The plant will receive 7.5 million tonnes of raw materials a year.
Boulder Seamless Tube Project, UAE
This $600 (about Dh2.2 billion) project in the design phase for a seamless steel tube finishing facility with a capacity of 175,000 tpa.
Saudi Iron & Steel Company, Jubail Mill Expansion 2
The $600 project currently being carried out is for a direct reduction iron plant with a capacity of 1.76 million tonnes annually.
Pan Kingdom Investment Company Jizan Economic City Steel Plant Future Expansion, Saudi Arabia
This $600 project is under study for expanding the production capacity of the plant, including a rolling mill, and melt shop.
