Australia’s alumina export likely to grow marginally in 2019: South Africa to top the importers list

With seven refineries operating, Australia is the world’s second largest producer and exporter of alumina. It mostly produces smelter grade alumina for both the domestic and export markets and accounts for 22 per cent of the global production. Rio Tinto, Alcoa, South32 are some of the few significant alumina refineries in Australia.

The statistics by Australian Aluminium Council Ltd. shows that the country in 2016 had exported 17.1 million tonnes of alumina at the value of A$5.4 billion. In 2017, the volume remained the same at 17.1 million tonnes, but the value increased significantly to A$7.3 billion.

In 2018, however, Australia's alumina exports were estimated to stand low at 10.3 million tonnes, down by about 40 per cent from both 2016 and 2017, according to our third-party data. In 2019, the exports volume is forecast to come in at 10.8 million tonnes, marginally high compared to the previous year.

Our third-party data also shows that this year South Africa is expected to top the list of alumina importers from Australia, by purchasing 3.4 million tonnes. India is likely to stand second by securing 1.9 million tonnes, followed by Mozambique 967,625 tonnes, Argentina 856,388 tonnes, and Russia 873,396 tonnes.