US bauxite import in second quarter 2018 up QoQ and YoY; Jamaica continues as top bauxite supplier

According to the latest USGS release on Bauxite and Alumina in the Second Quarter 2018, imports of crude and dried bauxite by the U.S. in Q2 2018 were 917,000 tonnes, 41% more than the volume of 651,000 tonnes  in the first quarter of 2018.  On a YoY basis, import of bauxite is up 13% from the volume imported in Q2 2017 and 35% less than those in Q2 2016.

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When we look at the graph we, see that the imports of crude and dried bauxite by the U.S. have been on a downward trend since the second quarter of 2016. After reaching the lowest in the second quarter of 2017, the import increased in the third quarter of 2017. Though it fell for the next consecutive quarters, the second quarter of 2018 registers a significant rise in the import.  

Crude and dried bauxite imports in 2017 were 3.43 million tons, 32% less than about 5 million tonnes in 2016 and 68% less than those in 2015. The total bauxite import in H1 2018 stood at 1.56 million tonne. At this rate we can expect the yearly import volume to be about 3.2 to 3.6 million tonnes. Year over year, the U.S. has reported a significant fall in imports. The decrease in bauxite imports YOY is attributable to the temporary and permanent shutdown of a number of aluminium smelters and alumina refinery in the US.

New Day Aluminum Holdings LLC, the parent company of Noranda Bauxite and Alumina LLC, announced capacity expansion at its alumina refinery in Gramercy, LA. A second chemical-grade alumina production line would be added to the 1.2 mtpy refinery. The plant, which will employ 460 people after the expansion, has been one of the top employers in St. James Parish. The refinery converts bauxite ore shipped from a mine in Jamaica into alumina. The increased import of bauxite signifies more consumption by the domestic alumina refineries in Q2 2018.

Jamaica continued to remain the top bauxite supplier to the U.S. throughout 2017 and the first half of 2018. In Q2 2018, import from Jamaica stood at 74% and import from Brazil stood at 23%. 

The U.S. also exports bauxite mostly to Canada and some amount to Mexico. In Q2 2018, the U.S. exported 1,560 tonnes of bauxite, up from 838 tonnes in Q1 2018. For the full year 2017, the total U.S. export of bauxite stood at 5,160 tonnes.