U.S. Exports And Imports For Consumption Of Alumina, By Country Or Locality

This table presents detailed statistics on the quantities and values of alumina exported from and imported into the United States, broken down by country or locality. Alumina, a critical intermediate product derived from bauxite, serves as the primary raw material for aluminum production, making its trade flows vital for industries such as transportation, construction, and packaging. Monitoring these trade patterns helps gauge the health of the domestic aluminum supply chain, informs policy decisions, and supports economic planning by highlighting key international partnerships and shifts in global market dynamics.

Analysis of the data reveals that total U.S. exports of alumina slightly decreased from 180 thousand metric tons in 2021 to 174 thousand metric tons in 2022, while the export value increased marginally from $418 million to $425 million. Mexico remains the largest export destination by quantity, with 64 thousand metric tons in 2022, closely followed by Canada at 23 thousand metric tons. Notably, exports to the United Arab Emirates doubled in value from $4 million to $10.4 million despite a small increase in quantity, indicating higher prices or premium grades. On the import side, there was a significant increase in alumina imports, rising from 1.55 million metric tons valued at $784 million in 2021 to 1.88 million metric tons worth $1.06 billion in 2022. Australia showed the most dramatic growth, with imports nearly quadrupling from 66 thousand to 248 thousand metric tons and the value nearly tripling to $81 million. Conversely, imports from Jamaica dropped sharply from 239 thousand metric tons to 41 thousand metric tons, with a corresponding value decline from $88.7 million to $15.2 million. Brazil remains the dominant supplier, increasing both volume and value, underscoring its critical role in the U.S. alumina supply chain.