World bauxite export trade is growing. With demand for both crude and dried bauxite set on a steady growth trajectory and supply tightened due to various socio-economic reasons, the prices of the commodity are expected to remain stable or on a moderate uptrend in the medium-term. The market dynamics, international trade data suggests, is going to be largely impacted upon by the robust economic growth in China and India.
{alcircleadd}As per the latest statistics shared by the United States Geological Survey for the year 2015 (estimated), the top five bauxite producing countries in the world are: Australia (80,000 thousand tonnes), China (60,000 thousand tonnes), Brazil (35,000 thousand tonnes), India (19,200 thousand tonnes), and Guinea (17,700 thousand tonnes). However, international trade shows that currently, the top five bauxite exporters in the world are:
1. Australia
2. Guinea
3. Brazil
4. India
5. China
In the first three months of the current calendar year, i.e. during January-March 2017, Australia exported 6.08 million tonnes of bauxite worth US$220 million. In the April-June quarter, the volume exported is estimated to reach 6.7 million tonnes. The export revenue from the commodity will rise to US$242 million.
Guinea is racing past many countries to become a key exporter of bauxite globally. It is ramping up its production fast to cater to the growing demand of bauxite from China. In the initial three months of 2017, bauxite export from the country reached 4.14 million tonnes. During April-June, the volume is estimated drop marginally to stand at 4 million tonnes. Guinea's earnings from bauxite export totalled US$210 million in the first quarter of 2017.
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Brazil comes third in terms of bauxite exports as estimated by global trade analysts. The South American country shipped 2.6 million tonnes of bauxite in first quarter of 2017 calendar year. In second quarter, the volume is estimated to rise up to 2.8 million tonnes.
China is a net importer of bauxite. It is constantly diversifying its bauxite sources in a bid to feed its rising aluminium capacity. The country's bauxite exports remain insignificant since the major chunk of the mineral excavated is used for its domestic aluminium production.
India's bauxite export totalled 8.1 million tonnes in the initial three months of 2017. During April-June, bauxite export volume in the country is estimated to reach 8.3 million tonnes. The country boasting high-grade metallurgical bauxite reserves does not export bauxite mined in the eastern coast. It is exclusively used for domestic aluminium production. It is only the mineral produced on the country's west coast is exported globally. The country's revenues from bauxite export stood at US$264 million during January-March 2017. In the next three months of the current year, bauxite export revenue is estimated to reach US$285 million.
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