EGA Port Capacity Expansion Strengthens Abu Dhabi Aluminium Logistics

Emirates Global Aluminium

EGA port capacity expansion at Khalifa Port will increase the scale and efficiency of bulk raw material handling for Emirates Global Aluminium’s operations in Abu Dhabi. EGA and AD Ports Group will jointly invest 84mn dirhams in a multi-phase berth enhancement programme.

EGA port capacity expansion will allow larger dry bulk vessels to use the company’s dedicated berth. These vessels can carry around 15-20% more cargo than those currently calling at the site.

EGA port capacity expansion will also improve unloading capacity, berth productivity and overall cargo-handling efficiency. The upgraded infrastructure is expected to support around 8mn t/yr of bulk cargo once completed.

The project is scheduled for completion by August 2028 and strengthens the logistics backbone supporting one of the Middle East’s largest aluminium production systems.

Larger Vessels Could Lower Raw Material Logistics Costs

Primary aluminium production depends on continuous access to large volumes of raw materials, making port efficiency an important part of smelter competitiveness.

Allowing larger dry bulk vessels to dock at EGA’s dedicated berth should improve shipping economics by increasing cargo volumes per voyage.

Higher vessel capacity can reduce freight costs per tonne, improve supply efficiency and decrease the number of shipments required to move the same amount of material.

The programme will also allow additional unloading equipment to be installed, improving the speed at which vessels can discharge cargo.

Faster unloading reduces berth occupancy and can improve inventory management across the wider aluminium production system.

For large-scale smelters, these logistics improvements can be significant because raw material flows must remain stable even during periods of shipping disruption or strong production demand.

Infrastructure Investment Supports EGA’s Wider Aluminium Growth

The Khalifa Port upgrade comes as EGA continues to expand across primary aluminium, recycling and downstream operations.

Reliable bulk logistics will remain critical as the company manages large material flows supporting its Abu Dhabi production base.

The ability to handle around 8mn t/yr of cargo also provides additional operational flexibility if production or raw material requirements increase.

The investment strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as an integrated aluminium hub combining port infrastructure, smelting, recycling and downstream manufacturing.

It also highlights the growing importance of industrial logistics in metals competitiveness. Producers with efficient access to ports, energy and raw materials can maintain lower delivered costs than competitors operating through more fragmented supply chains.

For EGA, improving berth capacity therefore supports both existing operations and future expansion while reducing logistics constraints.

The Metalnomist Commentary

EGA’s port investment shows that aluminium competitiveness extends well beyond the smelter itself. Larger vessels and faster unloading can lower raw material costs and strengthen supply resilience across the entire production chain.