Australia, Brazil stands as the top two Alumina supplier for Argentina in 2019-20

The economic situation of Argentina remained frightful in Q3 after GDP collapsed in Q2. While the pace of the decline in economic activity softened in July-August from Q2, it remained considerable. Similarly, consumer confidence remained downbeat in Q3, pointing to constrained household spending.

The South American nation’s import volume of alumina during 2019-20 is highlighted with 1,421,678 tonnes and the foreign revenue expenditure accounted for the import stands at $470.26 million. However, Argentina's top two major suppliers of alumina are Australia and Brazil.

Aluar Aluminio Argentino is the only aluminium smelter in Argentina and one of the largest in South America. Most of Aluar's operations are carried out in the Primary Division at its plant in Puerto Madryn and plates, ingots, bars, wire rod and aluminium alloys are produced to supply the most diverse industries, construction, automotive, packaging, power transmission lines, among others.

The alumina importation of Argentina from Australia in 2019 stood at 395,107 tonnes and the expenditures remained at $165.36 million, while in 2020 the import saw de-growth by 27.70%, as the import volume to remain at 285,641 tonnes and the expenditure to stand at $80.10 million.

Argentina’s second-highest supplier of alumina in 2019 was Brazil, which exported 390,524 tonnes and the expenditure recorded was $140.42 million, whereas in 2020 the import volume declined by 26.13%, as the import to stand at 288,472 and expenditure to remain at $77.64 million.

Australia, Brazil records with 92.92% of total alumina supply to Argentina in 2019 when the country’s total alumina import stands at 845,474 tonnes. The import for 2020 also to hold 99.63% of the gross import of the country’s alumina, which is expected to be at 576,204 tonnes.