US bauxite imports rise 8% in Q4 2019 while alumina imports drop 2.71%; Jamaica and Brazil top the exporters list

As shown by the latest US Geological Survey data on bauxite and alumina imports in the fourth quarter of 2019, the United States imported 1 million tonnes of crude and dried bauxite, up 8 per cent from 929,000 tonnes in the third quarter and 15 per cent more than 840,000 tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2018. With this, the US’ total bauxite imports in 2019 came in at 3.71 million tonnes, as compared with 3.33 million tonnes in the whole of 2018.

Jamaica was the leading supplier of bauxite in Q4 2019, followed by Brazil and Turkey. While Jamaica exported 702,000 tonnes accounting for 70 per cent of the total bauxite import by the US, Brazil contributed 27 per cent by supplying 272,000 tonnes. From Turkey, the US imported 28,200 tonnes in Q4.

Imports of alumina during Q4 2019 totalled at 466,000 tonnes, down 2.71 per cent from 479,000 tonnes in Q3 2019 but up 71 per cent from 273,000 tonnes. With this, the total alumina imports by the United States in 2019 came in at 1.94 million tonnes, which in the previous year was 1.53 million tonnes. This indicates a growth of 26.79 per cent in the United States’ alumina imports last year.

Brazil was the leading country with 189,000 tonnes of alumina exports to the US. Australia was the second highest with 149,000 tonnes, followed by Jamaica 76,000 tonnes.