Maaden sees Saudi aluminium demand doubling by 2030

Saudi Arabian Mining Co, known as Maaden, predicts a doubling of domestic aluminium demand by 2030, reaching 1.8 million metric tons per year from the present 1 million metric tons. Ahmad al-Alshaikh, Maaden's executive vice president for aluminium, anticipates this surge to be realized within the next five to seven years. The growth is driven by Saudi Arabia's hosting of significant events such as major expositions and the 2034 football World Cup which necessitates the construction of 15 new stadiums.

Alshaikh made these projections at the Fastmarkets International Aluminium Conference held in Budapest, stating that demand could reach between 1.6 million and 1.8 million tons by the end of the decade. Currently, Maaden produces around 780,000 tons of primary aluminium and 1 million tons of cast metal annually. The company sells 85% of its output within the domestic market.

Alshaikh mentioned that while the Iran war has had a marginal impact on Maaden's operations, Gulf Cooperation Council countries have worked together to mitigate its effects.