EGA, Gulftainer sign agreement to expand aluminium recycling exports

UAE – Emirates Global Aluminium and Gulftainer have signed a strategic agreement to expand aluminium exports from the UAE’s East Coast, routing up to 250,000 tonnes in the first year and strengthening the circular metal supply chain.

Under the agreement, EGA will route up to 250 thousand tonnes of aluminium from the UAE’s East Coast in the first year, increasing to up to 300 thousand tonnes in the second year. Volumes could increase further in subsequent years. 

Gulftainer will further develop port capabilities to accommodate EGA’s requirements. 

The agreement forms part of EGA’s strategy to strengthen the efficiency and resilience of its outbound logistics, supporting continued growth and its ability to serve customers in global markets.

Recycled Aluminium Demand Grows Across Packaging and Industrial Sectors

Aluminium ranks as the biggest made-in-the-UAE export after oil and gas, and its recyclability underpins growing demand across packaging, automotive and construction sectors. 

EGA has expanded its recycling capacity in recent years, including its acquisition of an 80 percent stake in Italian recycled-content producer Eco Green, giving the company more than 400,000 metric tonnes per year of recycling capacity across the UAE, the United States, Germany and Italy. 

Recycled aluminium requires significantly less energy to produce than primary metal, reducing carbon intensity for downstream manufacturers. 

EGA supplies aluminium to more than 400 customers in over 50 countries worldwide, and in 2025 sold more than 2.83 million tonnes of cast metal.

Leadership Cites Logistics Diversification Strategy

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said EGA was the biggest premium aluminium producer in the world, with customers in more than 50 countries needing its metal. 

He added that the company had already made considerable progress diversifying its outbound logistics to ensure reliable deliveries, describing the agreement with Gulftainer as another important step forward.

Gulftainer Frames Deal as Trade Resilience Investment

Farid Belbouab, group chief executive of Gulftainer, said the agreement went far beyond logistics, describing it as building resilience for UAE trade. 

He noted that by enabling Emirates Global Aluminium’s increasing logistics demand through the UAE’s East Coast, the company was providing a strategic, efficient and reliable gateway to global markets. 

He added that the arrangement underscored Gulftainer’s fully integrated platform in serving the nation’s most strategic industries. 

For packaging supply chains, reliable export logistics and expanding recycling capacity position regional aluminium producers to serve can makers and converters seeking lower-carbon metal across Asia, Europe and Africa.

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