According to the latest USGS release on Bauxite and Alumina in the Fourth Quarter 2017; imports of alumina by the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2017 stood at 355,000 tonnes. The volume was 3% less than the amount of 364,000 tonnes imported in the third quarter of 2017 and 34% more than that in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Alumina imports for the full year 2017 stood at 1.33 million tonnes. This registers a 17% increase over the volume in 2016 but 87% less than those in 2015. This indicates increasing domestic aluminium production in the U.S. in 2017, in comparison to 2016. The leading sources of imported alumina in the fourth quarter of 2017 were Brazil (44%), Australia (28%), and Jamaica (13%).
Exports of alumina during the fourth quarter of 2017 were 121,000 tonne, 17% more than the 103,000 tonnes exported in the third quarter of 2017. The amount is 32% less than those in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 80% less than those in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Alumina exports for the full year 2017 stood at 481,000 tonnes. This registers a 64% drop over the volume in 2016 and 78% drop over those in 2015. The leading destinations for alumina exported in the fourth quarter of 2017 were India (26%), Iceland (26%), Mexico (11%), China (10%) and the Netherlands (10%).
Drops in alumina exports YoY are attributable to the shutdown of Alcoa’s Point Comfort Refinery, TX Texas. Sherwin Alumina Co. LLC also shut down its 1.65-Mt/yr alumina refinery in Gregory, TX. However, drop in alumina export QoQ is driven by more consumption of alumina by domestic smelters.
Responses
