US alumina imports record a quarterly rise of 22% to 411000 tonnes in 4Q2021, but imports in H2 reflect a 6.5% fall

The United States alumina imports in the fourth quarter of 2021 recorded a Q-o-Q rise of 22.32 per cent to 411,000 tonnes, unlike bauxite imports which fell during the said period by 11 per cent, found the USGS data. In Q3 2021, the United States imported 336,000 tonnes of alumina, which was, however, down by 12.27 per cent from 383,000 tonnes in Q2.

On a year-on-year calculation, the United States alumina imports in Q4 2021 stood 30.89 per cent higher than 314,000 tonnes.

But the United States alumina imports in the second half of the year edged 6.51 per cent downfall from 799,000 tonnes in H1 to 747,000 tonnes. But compared to H2 2020, the imports during the same period this year registered an increase of 19.33 per cent from 626,000 tonnes.

In full-year 2021, the United States alumina imports totalled 1.550 million tonnes – 15.67 per cent more than 1.340 million tonnes a year ago.

Brazil continued to be the leading supplier of alumina to the US in Q4, followed by Canada. While the former exported 341,000 tonnes, up by 46.35 per cent on quarter and 42.68 per cent on year, the latter supplied 17,900 tonnes, majorly unchanged from the previous quarter but 17.76 per cent higher than a year.

On the other hand, the United States alumina exports recorded a quarterly decline in Q4 from 42,900 tonnes to 41,700 tonnes. Also, on a year-on-year basis, the exports registered a fall of 17.26 per cent from 50,400 tonnes.  

In full-year 2021, total alumina exports from the US amounted to 180,000 tonnes, 17.65 per cent higher year-on-year than 153,000 tonnes.