BAUXITE

Production In 2022, one alumina refinery produced an estimated 1.2 Mt of alumina from imported bauxite in the United States, slightly more than the amount produced in 2021. The 1.2-Mt/a refinery in Gramercy, LA, owned by Noranda Alumina LLC, produced alumina mostly for use in aluminum smelters, but also produced specialty alumina. The 500-kt/a refinery in Burnside, LA, owned by Arthur Metals LLC, which was temporarily shut down in August 2020, remained closed in 2022 with no announced plans for reopening. The United States is 100 percent net import reliant for metallurgical-grade bauxite. Small amounts of bauxite and bauxitic clays are produced in Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia for nonmetallurgical uses. Consumption and end uses Total domestic consumption of bauxite (in crude dry equivalent) was estimated to be 2.9 Mt in 2022, 4 percent more than that in 2021. Of this total, 2.4 Mt (approximately 82 percent) was used to produce alumina, 9 percent less than in the prior year. Other uses of bauxite included abrasives, cement, chemicals and refractories, as well as uses in the petroleum industry, steel production and water treatment. Total domestic consumption of alumina by the aluminum industry was 1.72 Mt in 2022, 3 percent less than that in 2021. Approximately 940 kt of alumina was consumed by other industries in the United States in 2022, 17 percent more than the amount in 2021. Other uses of alumina included abrasives, cement, ceramics and chemicals. Foreign trade Bauxite. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, metallurgical-grade bauxite (crude dry) imports totaled 2.8 Mt in 2022, 9 percent less than the quantity imported in 2021. In 2022, the leading suppliers were Jamaica (84 percent) and Turkey (14 percent). Imports from Jamaica and Turkey decreased by 248 kt (10 percent) and 53 kt (12 percent), respectively. The bauxite from Turkey is believed to have been used for nonmetallurgical uses based on the destination ports. Imports of refractory-grade calcined bauxite in 2022 totaled 108 kt, 22 percent less than those in 2021. Guyana (62 percent) and China (36 percent) were the principal sources of refractory-grade calcined bauxite imports. Imports of refractory-grade calcined bauxite from Guyana increased by 10.7 kt (19 percent) while those from China decreased by 40.1 kt (51 percent). Imports of nonrefractory-grade calcined bauxite in 2022 totaled 371 kt, 17 percent more than those imported in 2021. Guyana (37 percent), the Dominican Republic (25 percent), Australia (22 percent) and Brazil (12 percent) were the leading sources. Imports of nonrefractory-grade calcined bauxite from Guyana and Australia decreased by 4.8 kt (3 percent) and 17.4 kt (18 percent), respectively, while those from Brazil and the Dominican Republic increased by 43.5 kt (no imports in 2021) and 38.6 kt (73 percent), respectively. Alumina. Imports of alumina in 2022 totaled 1.89 Mt, 21 percent more than those in 2021. Brazil (62 percent) and Australia (13 percent) were the leading sources of imported alumina. Exports of alumina in 2022 totaled 174 kt, 4 percent less than those in 2021, with Mexico (37 percent), Canada (13 percent) and China including Hong Kong (8 percent) as the leading destinations. Prices According to the U.S. Census Bureau, prices for imported bauxite varied depending on the source and grade. Average unit values (free alongside ship, or f.a.s.) for imported crude dry bauxite from major suppliers in 2022 were $25/t from Jamaica (unchanged) and $52/t from Turkey (29 percent increase). Average unit values (f.a.s.) for imported refractory-grade calcined bauxite in 2022 were $497/t from China (10 percent increase) and $239/t from Guyana (11 percent decrease). Average unit values (f.a.s.) for imported nonrefractory-grade calcined bauxite in 2022 were $34/t from Australia (8 percent increase), $54/t from the Dominican Republic (21 percent increase) and $195/t from Guyana (31 percent increase). The average unit value (f.a.s.) for imported alumina in 2022 was $518/t, 12 percent more than that in 2021. The average unit value (f.a.s.) for alumina exported from the United States increased to $2,920/t, a 10 percent increase compared with the price in 2021. Based on cargo sizes, export destinations and prices, it is assumed that most of the alumina exports in 2021 and 2022 were specialty grade alumina instead of smelter-grade alumina. Outlook Consumption of bauxite and alumina for nonmetallurgical uses will likely follow the progress of domestic economic activity combined with the influences of global supply-chain issues, higher oil prices and the possibility of interest-rate increases. Metallurgical-grade bauxite consumption is expected to remain stable after recovering in 2021 from pandemic-related disruptions in 2020. The refinery in Gramercy, LA, was thought to be producing near its full capacity and is expected to continue to do so, while a restart of the refinery in Burnside, LA, is not expected this year. Consumption of metallurgical-grade alumina in the United States was expected to remain flat as no primary aluminum smelter restarts have been announced for 2023. Production of alumina for specialty markets will depend on the recovery of economic activity. Consumption of refractory-grade calcined bauxite is largely dependent upon steel production. The World Steel Association’s short-term outlook anticipates domestic steel demand to increase by 1.6 percent in 2023, and it is expected that consumption of refractory-grade calcined bauxite will follow this trend. Consumption of alumina and nonrefractory-grade calcined bauxite is expected to follow the general growth of the construction, chemical, manufacturing and petroleum industries, which is projected to increase by 1 percent in 2023. References are available from the author.

BAUXITE

Authored by:
Adam M. Merrill

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