Mitsui and Company, a diversified global enterprise, has purchased a 25 per cent interest in Garmco Singapore.

Garmco Singapore is owned by Bahrain-based Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company (Garmco) and Perse Metals, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Headquartered in Singapore, and with subsidiaries in Thailand and China, Garmco Singapore is one of the largest non-ferrous service centres in Southeast Asia.

It reprocesses and distributes aluminium coils and sheets, thick plates, bars, extrusions, as well as a wide range of metals products.

Garmco Singapore will purchase aluminium products mainly from Garmco, which will remain the majority shareholder of the joint venture.

The shareholders will endeavour to expand Garmco Singapore's position as one of the market leaders in Southeast Asia's non-ferrous products servicing/ distributing business.

This will be done combining both Garmco's competitiveness as an aluminium flat rolled products (FRP) manufacturer and Mitsui's extensive experience as a global trading, investment and service enterprise.

Aluminium FRP are used in a variety of applications including electronics, transport, food packaging and the construction industry.

The world annual demand for FRP exceeds 20 million tonnes with further growth expected in the future.

Garmco is one of the largest downstream aluminium facilities in the Middle East.

Mahmood Al Soufi and Graham Bruce are Garmco representatives on the board of the Garmco Singapore, whereas Yoshinori Takase represents Mitsui and Company. and Alvin Tan represents Perse Metals. - TradeArabia News Service