Gulf Exporters

Decorated exporter Al Nimr rides tall

The company’s office in Dubai

Dubai-based Al Nimr Steel Trading, stockist of a wide range of steel products, has reported a notable increase in sales volumes in 2014.

Last year there was a change in the management of Al Nimr Steel where Hassan El Amil, CEO of the company for the past 24 years and now chairman, purchased the full shareholding of the company from previous owners and established Al Nimr Steel Trading as an independent entity from the holding company Tiger Group.

Under the new ownership, the company reached new heights with a 40 per cent quantitative increase in the sales volume in 2014 while also winning an ‘Exporter of the Month’ award granted by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in April.

Al Nimr Steel Trading was established in 1990 to contribute positively to the then growing steel industry and cater to all steel requirements in the GCC market. It has emerged over the years to become a major steel stockist and trader of structural steel for the whole of the Menasa (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region. 

The company trades in a wide range of long and flat steel products such as hot rolled plates, structural sections including beams and columns, channels, chequered plates, hot rolled coils, flat bars, equal and unequal angles and hollow sections.

Commenting on the company’s performance in 2014, El Amil said: “While 30 per cent of total sales came from exports in 2013, the export percentage crossed last year the 35 per cent mark.

“We export to all countries in the Menasa region and supply various types of steel to industries all across. Items exported constitute all types of steel products.”

Al Nimr Steel Trading’s stockyard in Dubai

Al Nimr Steel Trading’s stockyard in Dubai

The company’s top export markets include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.

Observed El Amil: “The UAE is a window to the GCC region for all major exporting countries and a marketing hub because of its extreme business-friendly environment and world-class infrastructure.”

The company’s growth strategy has been to boost its exports by increasing its clientele list exponentially.

“We are keen on being recognised always as the largest steel stockists and suppliers in the region; in order to obtain this prestigious recognition we participate in most of the major exhibitions in the GCC and Egypt. We also indulge in deeper penetration by ensuring periodic personal visits of our marketing team to potential clients for introducing our services and our latest products,” said El Amil.

For this year, the company plans to increase exports in order to reach 50 per cent of total turnover.

“We also aim to expand to a wider platform of regions and to enter new markets such as African countries. We have already ventured into stocking new steel products.  We are quite positive that there will be a turnaround in steel prices early in 2015,” said El Amil.

“Our initiatives are led by Johnny El Amil, general manager of the company.”

Al Nimr Steel’s head office is located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. It has a stockyard of over 321,000 sq ft and stocks about 50,000 tonnes of products. The company also has a stockyard-cum-office in Sharjah Industrial Area 12 with a total area of over 160,500 sq ft and a stocked volume of 15,000 tonnes.

 

NEW PRODUCTS

Thirty-five per cent of sales came from exports in 2014

Thirty-five per cent of sales came from exports in 2014

Al Nimr Steel Trading has introduced a new range of all-certified Grade 70 and hollow section products.

Commenting on the new products, a spokesperson for the company said: “Grade 70 plates are mainly used by oil and gas industries for manufacturing pressure vessels and boilers. Low carbon content and a special combination of chemical elements ensure a long life span for equipment made from plates of that grade.”

The Grade 70 plates meet with the latest edition of ASME/ASTM specifications.

Another product it introduced is the hollow section (square and rectangular) in both hot and cold rolled form. The hollow section is a high-end, top quality product used for design purposes and fabrication in construction. Available with the company in both commercial and high-grade specifications, it was utilised in the structural design and fabrication of major UAE projects such as the Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates.

Al Nimr Steel Trading maintains loyal relationships and partnerships with major local and international steel producers and suppliers in the region. The specifications of steel products which are available in its range cover US, British, European and Japanese standards.