United States alumina imports show a Q-o-Q decline of 12% to 336,000 tonnes in 3Q2021; Imports from Brazil edge 7.5% fall

According to the recent report published by the US Census Bureau, the United States alumina imports in the third quarter of 2021 saw a drop of 12.27 per cent quarter-on-quarter to 336,000 tonnes. In the second quarter, the country’s alumina imports were 383,000 tonnes, which was also down by 7.93 per cent from 416,000 tonnes in Q1 2021.

However, on a year-on-year basis, the United States alumina imports in Q3 2021 grew 7.69 per cent from 312,000 tonnes.

The total alumina imports by the United States from January to September 2021 amounted to 1.130 million tonnes, reflecting an increase of 9.71 per cent from 1.030 million tonnes during the same period last year.

Brazil, being the primary supplier of alumina to the US, exported 233,000 tonnes in Q3 2021, 7.54 per cent less than 252,000 tonnes in Q2.  On a year-on-year basis, the alumina exports from Brazil to the US in Q3 stood 1.75 per cent higher than 229,000 tonnes. In the first three quarters, the United States alumina imports from Brazil totalled 705,000 tonnes, up by 6.82 per cent from 660,000 tonnes a year ago.

From Jamaica, the United States imported 57,600 tonnes of alumina in Q3 2021, down by 34 per cent quarter-on-quarter from 87,400 tonnes but up by 51.18 per cent year-on-year from 38,100 tonnes.

The United States alumina exports in 3Q2021 stood at 42,900 tonnes, which was down as well on the quarter by 12.09 per cent from 48,800 tonnes. But on a year-on-year basis, the exports during the said period were up by 13.79 per cent from 37,700 tonnes. From Q1 to Q3, the total exports were 138,000 tonnes compared to 112,000 tonnes a year earlier.