As the global aluminium market braces for a new phase of industrial transition, driven by decarbonisation, electric mobility, and infrastructure growth, the mineral fuelling this surge is quietly building geopolitical weight. Bauxite, the primary ore for aluminium, is showing a reshaped reserve landscape in 2024, with fresh data from AL Circle's research highlighting strategic concentrations that could redefine global supply chains. As of 2024, five countries dominate the global bauxite landscape by reserve volume: Guinea, Australia, Vietnam, Brazil, and Indonesia. Together, they account for over 66 per cent of the world’s total reserves. However, when juxtaposed with actual production output, the picture becomes more complex.
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Global snapshot: 29 billion tonnes and counting
As of 2024, the world’s total bauxite reserves stood at 29.06 billion tonnes, based on the latest compiled figures. This marks not only the vast availability of the ore but also underlines how control over these resources is becoming synonymous with geopolitical leverage in the aluminium value chain.
Three countries, Guinea, Australia, and Vietnam, command the lion’s share of global reserves. Their cumulative reserves account for nearly 48 per cent of the world’s bauxite, making these nations pivotal players in any strategic recalibration of supply routes and downstream investment decisions.
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