16 

ALUMINUM1

(Data in thousand metric tons of metal unless otherwise noted) 

Domestic Production and Use: In 2009, 6 companies operated 13 primary aluminum smelters; 4 smelters were 

closed the entire year, and demolition of 1 smelter that had been idle since 2000 was completed in 2009. Of the 

operating smelters, three were temporarily idled and parts of four others were temporarily closed in 2009. Based on 

published market prices, the value of primary metal production was $2.96 billion. Aluminum consumption was 

centered in the East Central United States. Transportation accounted for an estimated 33% of domestic consumption; 

the remainder was used in packaging, 26%; building, 14%; electrical, 8%; machinery, 8%; consumer durables, 7%; 

and other, 4%. 

Salient Statistics—United States: 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009e

Production: 

 Primary 2,481 2,284 2,554 2,658 1,710 

 Secondary (from old scrap) 1,080 1,260 1,600 1,340 1,260 

Imports for consumption 5,330 5,180 4,490 4,200 4,130 

Exports 2,370 2,820 2,840 3,280 2,570 

Consumption, apparent2 5,990 5,980 5,110 3,790 3,610 

Price, ingot, average U.S. market (spot), 

 cents per pound 91.0 121.4 125.2 120.5 78.0 

Stocks: 

 Aluminum industry, yearend 1,430 1,410 1,400 1,220 920 

 LME, U.S. warehouses, yearend3 209 228 463 1,290 2,120 

Employment, number4 58,400 57,300 56,600 53,900 45,000 

Net import reliance5

 as a percentage of 

 apparent consumption 41 31 19 E 18 

Recycling: In 2009, aluminum recovered from purchased scrap was about 3.0 million tons, of which about 60% came 

from new (manufacturing) scrap and 40% from old scrap (discarded aluminum products). Aluminum recovered from 

old scrap was equivalent to about 35% of apparent consumption. 

Import Sources (2005-08): Canada, 56%; Russia, 17%; Brazil, 4%; Venezuela, 4%; and other, 19%. 

Tariff: Item Number Normal Trade Relations

 12-31-09

Unwrought (in coils) 7601.10.3000 2.6% ad val. 

Unwrought (other than aluminum alloys) 7601.10.6000 Free. 

Waste and scrap 7602.00.0000 Free. 

Depletion Allowance: Not applicable.1

Government Stockpile: None. 

Events, Trends, and Issues: During the first half of 2009, several domestic primary aluminum smelters cut back 

production in response to significant price drops in the second half of 2008. Smelter closures took place in Alcoa, TN; 

Massena, NY; and Ravenswood, WV. Partial temporary shutdowns took place at smelters in Columbia Falls, MT; 

Hannibal, OH; Hawesville, KY; and New Madrid, MO. Demolition of a smelter in Vancouver, WA, that started in 2008 

was completed in 2009. By the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2009, domestic smelters operated at about 49% of 

rated or engineered capacity. 

Prepared by E. Lee Bray [(703) 648-4979, lbray@usgs.gov, fax: (703) 648-7757] 
 17 

ALUMINUM 

The United States again became reliant upon net imports as a percentage of apparent consumption in 2009 

compared with that of 2008 when the Nation was a net exporter of aluminum, as domestic primary production and 

exports decreased significantly. Canada and Russia accounted for almost three-fourths of total imports. U.S. exports 

decreased by 22% in 2009 compared with the amount exported in 2008. China, Canada, and Mexico, in descending 

order, received approximately three-fourths of total United States exports. 

The price of primary aluminum generally rose through August 2009 before declining in September. In January, the 

average monthly U.S. market price for primary ingot quoted by Platts Metals Week was $0.676 per pound; it reached 

a high of $0.921 per pound in August, but in September, the average monthly price was $0.883 per pound. Prices on 

the London Metal Exchange (LME) followed the trend of U.S. market prices. The monthly average LME cash price for 

August was $0.877 per pound, but in September the price was $0.832 per pound. 

World primary aluminum production declined sharply in the first quarter of the year in response to price declines in the 

wake of the financial crises that started in late 2008 and continued in early 2009. World inventories of metal held by 

producers, as reported by the International Aluminium Institute, decreased through the end of August to about 2.3 

million tons from 3.0 million tons at yearend 2008. Inventories of primary aluminum metal held by the LME worldwide 

increased during the year to 4.6 million tons at the end of September from 2.3 million tons at yearend 2008. 

World Smelter Production and Capacity:

 Production Yearend capacity

 2008 2009e 2008 2009e

United States 2,658 1,710 3,620 3,500 

Australia 1,970 1,970 1,970 1,970 

Bahrain 865 870 880 880 

Brazil 1,660 1,550 1,700 1,700 

Canada 3,120 3,000 3,120 3,090 

China 13,200 13,000 15,000 19,000 

Germany 550 520 620 620 

Iceland 787 790 790 790 

India 1,310 1,600 1,800 2,000 

Mozambique 536 500 570 570 

Norway 1,360 1,200 1,360 1,230 

Russia 3,800 3,300 4,400 5,150 

South Africa 811 800 900 900 

United Arab Emirates, Dubai 910 950 950 950 

Venezuela 610 550 625 625 

Other countries 4,850 4,600 6,260 6,920

 World total (rounded) 39,000 36,900 44,600 49,900 

World Resources: Domestic aluminum requirements cannot be met by domestic bauxite resources. Domestic 

nonbauxitic aluminum resources are abundant and could meet domestic aluminum demand. However, no processes 

for using these resources have been proven economically competitive with those now used for bauxite. The world 

reserves for bauxite are sufficient to meet world demand for metal well into the future. 

Substitutes: Composites can substitute for aluminum in aircraft fuselages and wings. Glass, paper, plastics, and 

steel can substitute for aluminum in packaging. Magnesium, titanium, and steel can substitute for aluminum in ground 

transportation and structural uses. Composites, steel, vinyl, and wood can substitute for aluminum in construction. 

Copper can replace aluminum in electrical applications. 

e

Estimated. E Net exporter. 

1

See also Bauxite and Alumina. 

2

Domestic primary metal production + recovery from old aluminum scrap + net import reliance; excludes imported scrap. 3

Includes aluminum alloy. 

4

Alumina and aluminum production workers (North American Industry Classification System—3313). Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of 

Labor Statistics.

5

Defined as imports – exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock changes. 

U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2010