Recent Demand and Trend Analysis of Fiberglass reinforced plastic and Galvanized Grating in the Middle East

Demand and Trend Analysis of Fiberglass reinforced plastic and Galvanized Grating in the Middle East Since 2024

 

1. Market background and demand driving factors

In the past six months, the procurement demand for fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) grilles and galvanized steel grilles in the Middle East has shown differentiated growth, mainly driven by the following factors:

-Accelerate infrastructure and energy projects: Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" and the UAE's "We the UAE 2031" strategies continue to advance, driving demand for corrosion-resistant grilles in industries such as petrochemicals, electricity, and seawater desalination.  

-The revival of the construction industry: The expansion of Dubai World Trade Center and the construction of commercial real estate projects such as Qatar hotels have increased the demand for galvanized grilles (used for stairs and platforms).  

-Environmental and cost considerations: Fiberglass grilles are gradually replacing traditional metal grilles in coastal and chemical projects due to their lightweight and maintenance free characteristics.  

2. Demand trend for fiberglass grating

(1) Expansion of application areas

-Petrochemical and seawater desalination: The new project of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) extensively uses fiberglass grating due to its acid and alkali resistance and salt spray corrosion resistance.  

-Municipal engineering: The pedestrian walkway and drainage system in the Saudi NEOM smart city project prefer fiberglass materials, which has driven a year-on-year increase of about 15% in procurement volume.  

(2) Regional procurement hotspots

-Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates account for over 70% of fiberglass grating orders in the Middle East, with major suppliers coming from China (60% of imports) and local companies such as Saudi Fiberline.  

-Price sensitivity decreases: Although the unit price of fiberglass is higher than that of galvanized steel (about 20-30% higher), the long-term maintenance cost advantage attracts high-end project procurement.  

3. Dynamic demand for galvanized grating

(1) The dominant demand in traditional fields

-Oil and gas: Refinery maintenance projects in Iraq and Kuwait still rely on galvanized steel grating due to its stronger load-bearing capacity (load standard up to EN ISO 14122).  

-Construction industry: The platform structures of Dubai's new industrial parks in 2024 mostly use galvanized grilles, with a single order size typically ranging from 50-100 tons.  

(2) Price and supply chain fluctuations

-Zinc price impact: Fluctuations in LME zinc prices in 2024 have led to unstable costs for galvanized grids, with some buyers turning to Chinese suppliers (offering prices 10-15% lower than in Europe).  

-Localized production: Oman Cables and other companies in Oman are expanding their galvanizing production lines to reduce their dependence on imports.  

4. Competitive landscape and supplier strategy

-International suppliers: Chinese manufacturers (such as Nanjing Yixi and Shandong Feilong) seize market share through price advantages (fiberglass grating quoted at $5-8/kg).  

-Localized services: UAE GRP Gulf and other enterprises provide customized cutting and installation services, shortening delivery cycles to 2-3 weeks and enhancing competitiveness.  

5. Outlook for the next six months

-Increased penetration rate of fiberglass grating: It is expected that the demand growth rate will reach 8-10% in the second half of 2024, especially in the application of Saudi Red Sea tourism projects, which will expand.  

-Galvanized grid technology upgrade: Improvement in hot-dip galvanizing process (such as zinc nickel alloy coating) may extend product life and stabilize industrial market share.  

-Policy risk: UAE carbon reduction regulations may impose higher environmental requirements on galvanizing processes, driving some companies to switch to fiberglass.  

6. Procurement Suggestions

-Short term demand: Galvanized grating is suitable for projects with limited budgets and high load-bearing requirements, and can lock in long-term agreement prices with Chinese suppliers.  

-Long term investment: Fiberglass grating has a higher ROI in corrosive environments, and it is recommended to cooperate with suppliers with Middle Eastern certifications such as SASO and ESMA.

Conclusion: The Middle East grille market is undergoing a dual transformation of material substitution and technological upgrading. Purchasing parties need to flexibly choose based on project cycles and cost structures, while paying attention to localized supply chains to reduce delivery risks.