The Global Flow of Aluminum From 2006 Through 2025

By W.D. Menzie, JJ Barry, D.I. Bleiwas, E.L. Bray, T.G. Goonan, and Grecia Matos

Open-File Report 2010–1256

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2010

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth,

its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment— 

visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. 

For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications,

visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov

Suggested citation:

Menzie, W.D., Barry, JJ, Bleiwas, D.I., Bray, E.L., Goonan, T.G., and Matos, Grecia, 2010, The global flow of 

aluminum from 2006 through 2025: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010–1256, 73 p., available at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1256/. 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual 

copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report.
Contents

Executive Summary....................................................................................................................................................... 1

1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 3

2. Background and Methods ....................................................................................................................................... 4

2.1. Life Cycle of Aluminum..................................................................................................................................... 4

2.2. Previous Studies............................................................................................................................................... 6

2.3. Methods of Present Study ................................................................................................................................ 6

3. Findings .................................................................................................................................................................. 9

3.1. Global Mass Flows of Aluminum ...................................................................................................................... 9

3.1.1. Macro-Level Flows of Aluminum—Production ........................................................................................... 9

3.1.1.1. Bauxite ................................................................................................................................................ 9

3.1.1.2. Alumina ..............................................................................................................................................10

3.1.1.3. Aluminum...........................................................................................................................................11

3.1.2. Micro-Level Flows of Materials Associated with Aluminum Production.....................................................14

3.1.2.1. Bauxite Mining....................................................................................................................................15

3.1.2.2. Alumina Production (Refining)............................................................................................................17

3.1.2.3. Aluminum Smelting and Electrolysis ..................................................................................................20

3.1.2.3.1. Aluminum Smelting and Electrolysis—Greenhouse Gas Emissions............................................30

3.1.2.3.2. Aluminum Smelting and Electrolysis—Generation of PFCs (Anode Events)...............................34

3.1.2.3.3. Industry Performance Goals........................................................................................................34

3.1.2.4. Materials Inputs to and Outputs from Secondary Aluminum Production ............................................34

3.1.3. Global Mass Flows of Aluminum—Consumption ......................................................................................36

3.1.3.1. Consumption—Overview ....................................................................................................................36

3.1.3.2. Consumption—End Uses...................................................................................................................38

3.1.3.2.1. Consumption for Transportation—Light Vehicles.........................................................................40

3.1.3.2.2. Consumption for Transportation—Aircraft ...................................................................................44

3.1.3.2.3. Consumption for Transportation—Railcars..................................................................................46

3.1.3.2.4. Consumption for Transportation—Final Thoughts .......................................................................46

3.2. Future Global Mass Flows of Aluminum..........................................................................................................46

3.2.1. Short- to Medium-Term Production Forecasts ..........................................................................................46

3.2.1.1. Bauxite ...............................................................................................................................................47

3.2.1.2. Aluminum...........................................................................................................................................47

3.2.2. Long-Term Production Forecasts..............................................................................................................48

3.2.2.1. The Model for Forecasting Long-Term Aluminum Consumption ........................................................48

3.2.3. Forecasts..................................................................................................................................................51

4. Conclusions ...........................................................................................................................................................54

4.1. Methods of Present Study (2.3).......................................................................................................................54

4.2. Macro-Level Flows (3.1.1)...............................................................................................................................54

4.3. Micro-Level Flows (3.1.2) ...............................................................................................................................54

4.4. Consumption (3.1.3)........................................................................................................................................54

4.5. Future Global Mass Flows of Aluminum (3.2)..................................................................................................55

4.5.1. Short- to Medium-Term Forecasts (3.2.1).................................................................................................55

4.5.2. Long-Term Forecasts (3.2.2) ....................................................................................................................55

4.5.3. Implications of the Forecasts (3.2.3).........................................................................................................55

5. References Cited ...................................................................................................................................................57

6. Appendixes ............................................................................................................................................................61

ii
iii

Figures

1. Diagram showing the global flow (life cycle) of aluminum in 2006.................................................................... 5 

2. Diagram showing a typical process flow for bauxite mining.............................................................................16

3. Diagram showing selected materials flows for a World bauxite mine model....................................................17

4. Diagram showing a typical process flow for alumina refining...........................................................................19

5. Diagram showing selected materials flows under the European and World alumina refinery models .............20

6. Diagram showing a typical process flow for aluminum smelting ......................................................................21

7. Diagram showing selected materials flows for the anode-making process of model European 

and World plants..............................................................................................................................................22

8. Bar chart showing air emissions for the anode-making process of model European and World plants ...........23

9. Bar chart showing externally recycled waste products for the anode-making process of 

model European and World plants ..................................................................................................................24

10. Bar chart showing solid waste (landfill) for the anode-making process of model 

European and World plants .............................................................................................................................25

11. Diagram showing selected materials flows for models of European and World aluminum smelters................26

12. Bar chart showing air emissions for models of European and World aluminum smelters................................27

13. Bar chart showing emissions to water for models of European and World aluminum smelters. ......................28

14. Bar chart showing externally recycled waste for models of European and World aluminum smelters.............29

15. Bar chart showing solid waste for models of European and World aluminum smelters ...................................30

16. Diagram of sources and distribution of fluorine during aluminum smelting ......................................................32

17. Diagram showing selected material flows for a European secondary aluminum smelter model in 2002 .........35

18. Graph showing aluminum consumption per capita measured against gross domestic product 

per capita for the 20 most populous countries in 2006 ....................................................................................38

19. Graph showing percentage of aluminum consumption in electrical end uses against 

gross domestic product per capita...................................................................................................................39

20. Graph showing percentage of aluminum consumption in transportation end uses against 

gross domestic product per capita...................................................................................................................40

21. Graph showing aluminum consumption per capita against purchasing power parity 

gross domestic product per capita in 2006 ......................................................................................................50

22. Graph showing aluminum consumption per capita against purchasing power parity 

gross domestic product per capita in 2006 ......................................................................................................51

Tables

1. Global production of bauxite in 2006 ...............................................................................................................10

2. Global production of alumina in 2006 ..............................................................................................................11

3. Global production of primary and secondary aluminum in 2006 ......................................................................13

4. Selected metals industry contributions to greenhouse gas emissions in 2006 ................................................33

5. Greenhouse gas emission intensity of primary aluminum operations in 2005 .................................................33

6. Aluminum consumption per capita versus gross domestic product per capita for the 20 most 

populous countries in 2006..............................................................................................................................37

7. Percentage of aluminum consumption by end use in populous countries with developing 

economies and selected high-income countries ..............................................................................................38

8. Vehicle production, aluminum intensity, aluminum use in vehicles, aluminum consumption, 

and selected data on aluminum consumption in transportation end uses........................................................42

9. Comparison of shipments of aluminum to manufacturers of passenger cars and light trucks with the 

estimated amount of aluminum contained in automobiles and light commercial vehicles in 

North America..................................................................................................................................................43
iv

10. Estimated amount of aluminum used to manufacture forms of transportation other than passenger 

cars and light trucks for selected countries......................................................................................................44

11. Estimated aluminum content of Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, and Embraer aircraft delivered in 2006 ............45

12. Short- to medium-term (1- to 5-year) outlook for bauxite production ...............................................................47

13. Short- to medium-term (1- to 5-year) outlook for aluminum production ...........................................................48

14. Gross domestic product (GDP), population, aluminum consumption, per capita GDP, and aluminum 

consumption per capita for the 40 most populous countries in 2006 ...............................................................49

15. Estimated population, purchasing power parity gross domestic product per capita, aluminum 

consumption per capita, and aluminum consumption for 2015, 2020, and 2025 .............................................52

Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

acre

square foot (ft2)

square inch (in2)

square mile (mi2)

4,047

0.09290

6.452

2.590

square meter (m2)

square meter (m2)

square centimeter (cm2)

square kilometer (km2) 

Volume

ounce, fluid (fl. oz)

cubic inch (in3)

cubic foot (ft3)

0.02957

16.39

0.02832

liter (L) 

cubic centimeter (cm3) 

cubic meter (m3) 

Mass

ounce, avoirdupois (oz) 28.35 gram (g) 

pound, avoirdupois (lb) 0.4536 kilogram (kg) 

ton, short (2,000 lb) 0.9072 megagram (Mg) or metric ton (t)

Energy

foot-pound (ft·lb) 1.356 joule (J)

horsepower (HP) 746 watt (W)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32.
1

The Global Flow of Aluminum From 2006 Through 2025

By W.D. Menzie, JJ Barry, D.I. Bleiwas, E.L. Bray, T.G. Goonan, and Grecia Matos

Executive Summary

This report presents results of an investigation of the global flow of materials related to the 

production and use of aluminum in 2006 and makes projections to 2025. The report was prepared in 

cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the Organisation for Economic 

Co-operation and Development, Environmental Policy Committee’s Working Group on Waste 

Prevention and Recycling. The report addresses the major resource flows and effects of those flows and 

provides insights on the life cycle of aluminum; it does not address policy issues related to the 

production and use of aluminum. 

The report describes the flow of aluminum for 2006 at a macro level (country and global scales) 

based mainly on production data for bauxite, alumina, and aluminum gathered by the U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS). Compared with findings from previous studies, this report estimates a similar level for 

the flow of primary aluminum (aluminum made from bauxite). The flow of secondary aluminum 

(aluminum made from fabrication and post-consumer scrap), however, is lower than that estimated by 

previous studies; this discrepancy should be further investigated. 

The report also describes flows of materials associated with the production of primary and 

secondary aluminum at the micro level. These materials include both major inputs to bauxite, alumina, 

and aluminum production and outputs from that production. Outputs of significant environmental 

concern include red mud that is produced as a result of the production of alumina from bauxite, and 

greenhouse gases (including CO2 from electricity generation and perfluorocarbons that are produced 

during electrolysis) that are produced as a result of the smelting of alumina to produce aluminum. 

The consumption of aluminum by end-use category in high-income countries compared with that 

in low- to middle-income countries is analyzed. The leading use of aluminum in many high-income 

countries is to produce goods in the transportation sector. In low- to middle-income countries, 

aluminum is used mainly in the production of electrical systems and by the construction industry. 

Differences in the end uses of aluminum by income have important implications for the recovery of 

post-consumer scrap because the in-service life of electrical systems and construction uses is much 

longer than that of many transportation uses. 

The report investigates the end uses of aluminum by the transportation sector in some detail. In 

particular, the report examines the use of aluminum in the manufacture of automobiles and commercial 

aircraft. Production of these goods generates different amounts of fabrication scrap and the goods have 

different in-service periods, which are two factors that are important to recovery of aluminum scrap. 

Aluminum production and consumption may be considered as the two sides of a single coin for 

the purposes of materials flow analysis. Consequently, the report presents both short- and medium-term 

forecasts of aluminum production based on a USGS compilation of planned changes in bauxite and 

aluminum production capacity on a country-by-country basis and a long-term forecast (to 2025) of 

aluminum consumption based a new method of analyzing and projecting future aluminum flows. The 
2

method combines a model that predicts aluminum consumption from economic growth rates with 

information about changes in end-use consumption that occur with changes in income to forecast levels 

of aluminum consumption and to draw inferences about the availability of aluminum scrap.

Based upon announced production plans, the capacity of bauxite mines worldwide is expected to 

increase to 270 million metric tons (Mt) by 2015 from 183 Mt in 2006, or by almost 48 percent. Future 

aluminum production capacity based upon announced production plans is expected to reach 61 Mt in 

2015 compared with 45.3 Mt in 2006, which is an increase of 35 percent, or almost 3.4 percent per year. 

By 2025, aluminum consumption is likely to increase by more that 2.5 times to 120 Mt 

compared with 45.3 Mt in 2006. This represents a growth rate of 4.1 percent per year. Most of the 

increased consumption will take place in countries that consumed only modest amounts of aluminum in 

2006. China, which consumed about 6.6 kilograms per capita in 2006, is expected to consume 

28.7 kilograms per capita in 2025. Russia, Brazil, and India also are expected to increase their aluminum 

consumption significantly. Consumption in high-income countries is not expected to change 

significantly on a per capita basis, but total consumption may change modestly owing to changes in 

population. 

To meet the projected consumption of 120 Mt of aluminum, the world would need to produce 

about 570 Mt of bauxite and about 230 Mt of alumina. This production will generate significant levels 

of waste even if technological improvements are made to current production processes. 

A key question related to this projected increase in consumption is what portion of the 

consumption will be satisfied by primary aluminum and what portion will be sourced from secondary 

aluminum, as this will have a considerable influence on the amount of greenhouse gases generated by 

aluminum production. That portion of secondary aluminum that comes from new scrap is likely to 

increase proportionately with overall consumption. The data on changing patterns of end use that come 

with increased income, however, suggest that, at least initially, the proportion of aluminum that is 

generated from old scrap may decrease as countries undergoing economic growth initially use 

aluminum to develop new infrastructure, which has a long term of in-service use. Later, recycling of 

post-consumer scrap could increase.

If the proportion of aluminum production that comes from primary smelters increases, at least 

until 2025, a reduction in greehhouse gases from aluminum production must come from increases in the 

efficiency of aluminum smelters or from reduced use of fossil fuels to generate the electricity used in 

aluminum production. 
3

1. Introduction

This study was undertaken at the request of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to 

support the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Environmental Policy 

Committee’s Working Group on Waste Prevention and Recycling. The Working Group commissioned 

case studies of four different materials [wood fibers, plastics, critical metals (those used in electronics), 

and aluminum] to examine the role that materials flow studies might play in the development of policy 

to promote sustainable materials management. The Working Group identified four key questions it 

hopes to address through the case studies— 

1. What are the major resource flows and environmental impacts and how are they expected to evolve 

in the future? To what extent is natural capital preserved?

2. How can new insights be gained and translated into new measures by taking a life cycle perspective? 

To what extent has it been possible to consider the complete materials life cycle?

3. What policy measures have been taken or can be taken to stimulate sustainable environmental, 

economic, and social outcomes? 

4. To what extents are different actors in society engaged in taking up active ethically based 

responsibilities for sustainable outcomes? 

This study of aluminum addresses the first two questions. 
4

2. Background and Methods

2.1. Life Cycle of Aluminum

Aluminum is one of the most important metals used by modern societies. Aluminum’s 

combination of physical properties results in its use in a wide variety of products, many of which are 

indispensable to modern life. Because of its light weight and electrical conductivity, aluminum wire is 

used for long-distance transmission of electricity. Aluminum’s strength, light weight, and workability 

have led to increased use in transportation systems, including light vehicles, railcars, and aircraft, as 

efforts to reduce fuel consumption have increased. Aluminum’s excellent thermal properties and 

resistance to corrosion have led to its use in air conditioning, refrigeration, and heat-exchange systems. 

Finally, its malleability has allowed it to be rolled and formed into very thin sheets used in a variety of 

packaging.

Figure 1 is a generalized model of the entire life cycle, or flow, of aluminum. Primary aluminum 

production begins with the mining of bauxite, which is processed first into alumina and subsequently 

into aluminum metal. The main wastes from bauxite mining are tailings produced by grinding and 

washing the bauxite. The processing of bauxite to alumina involves initial chemical processing of the 

bauxite. The main waste from alumina refining is the production of “red mud,” a waste that is usually 

disposed of in a landfill. The electrolysis of alumina to produce aluminum involves the use of aluminum 

fluoride, carbon anodes, and large amounts of electricity. The most significant waste products from the 

production of aluminum from alumina are air emissions, including perfluorocarbon (PFC) gases and 

carbon dioxide (CO2) from the production of anodes and electricity. 
5

Figure 1. Diagram showing the global flow (life cycle) of aluminum in 2006. Data are in metric tons; emissions are in italics. Modified from 

Martchek (2007).
6

Following smelting of the alumina to produce aluminum, the metal is poured into several basic 

shapes. These shapes are then fabricated into semimanufactured goods and then processed into finished 

goods. Fabrication may involve rolling the metal into sheets, casting the metal into shapes, drawing the 

metal into wire, or extrusion of the metal to produce different shapes. The amount of waste, or scrap, 

from fabrication and manufacture varies, depending on individual processes. For example, cutting of 

aluminum sheet produces significant amounts of scrap whereas casting aluminum parts produces little 

scrap. Scrap from fabrication and the manufacture of finished goods is generally recycled and is called 

new scrap. The main end uses, or classes, of aluminum-bearing goods include buildings (construction), 

durable goods, electrical (power), machinery, packaging, and transportation. Old, or post-consumer, 

scrap is generated at various rates for different types of goods, depending on the in-service life of the 

goods and the economics of collecting and recovering aluminum from the good. 

2.2. Previous Studies

The present report relies upon several seminal studies of U.S. and global aluminum flows. 

Martchek (2006) describes a model developed by Alcoa Inc. to provide estimates of the global 

aluminum flows and system losses from 1950 to 2003. Resource requirements and life cycle flows were 

estimated by combining aluminum flows with global average life cycle flow data developed from 

producers through the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). The model shows mass flows for 

primary and secondary (recycled) aluminum, including material from fabrication and manufacture of 

finished products; total aluminum in use; and three classes of losses (losses in recycling, material sent to 

landfills, and material under study). Recycled material is broken into four classes—aluminum skimmed 

in ingot production, internal scrap generated in the aluminum smelter, new scrap generated by 

fabricators, and old scrap generated by consumers of final goods. The amount of aluminum in the 

different types of scrap was estimated by teams of experts using statistical data and technical literature 

on aluminum production. The model used historic end-use data from regional aluminum associations to 

estimate future disposition of aluminum production. Martchek (2006) also presents data on past 

production of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and estimates of future GHG emissions from aluminum 

production that take into account increased use of recycled (secondary) aluminum and reductions in 

emissions in the production of primary aluminum. 

Martchek (2007) presents updated estimates of global aluminum flows in 2006 and estimates of 

the amount of GHG emissions generated by the major steps leading to the production of aluminum 

ingot. IAI presents updated (2005) life cycle data for primary aluminum, including raw materials and 

energy use, air and water emissions, and solid wastes generated (International Aluminium Institute, 

2007). 

In recent years, numerous reports on the flow of metals have appeared in the technical literature 

(see, for example, reports by Graedel and his colleagues at the Center for Industrial Ecology at Yale 

University). Two reports that are applicable to aluminum flows include those of Hatayama and others 

(2007) and Chen and others (2009). 

2.3. Methods of Present Study

The method developed for the Alcoa and IAI studies require some data and capabilities that were 

not available for the present study. In particular, this study lacked long-term data on end uses of 

aluminum in different regions, data on the flow within smelters, and the availability of experts who 

could estimate recycling rates. These deficiencies placed constraints on the study and required the 

development of an alternative method to estimate present and future aluminum flows. This study used 

data for 2006 so that flows common to this study and the IAI model can be compared and so more 
7

detailed flows from the Alcoa and IAI studies can be used with this study to obtain a more complete 

picture of flows associated with aluminum production and use. 

The forecast in the present study is based on a model that relates resource consumption (use) to 

average national income as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Previous studies 

(DeYoung and Menzie, 1999; Menzie, DeYoung, and Steblez, 2001) have shown that industrial 

consumption of such metals as copper and aluminum is low at low levels of income and high but stable 

once a threshold income is reached. As countries increase their per capita income, industrial 

consumption increases rapidly until the threshold is reached. Previous studies also show that the 20 

most populous countries typically consume about 70 percent of global production. As a result, this study 

focuses on high-income populous countries and selected populous countries experiencing rapid 

economic growth.

This study summarizes global (macro-level) aluminum mass flows in terms of the production of 

bauxite, alumina, and primary and secondary aluminum, and the apparent consumption of aluminum. 

All production data, except the estimated secondary aluminum production for Russia, are taken from the 

aluminum chapter (Bray, 2010a) of volume I of the USGS Minerals Yearbook (MYB) and various 

country chapters of volume III of the MYB. An estimate of Russia’s secondary aluminum production 

was made based upon Grishayev and Petrov (2008). Consumption data were taken from various 

publications of the World Bureau of Metal Statistics (www.world-bureau.com) or were calculated from 

USGS production data and trade data from the United Nations Comtrade database (comtrade.un.org). 

Micro-level flows of materials associated with the production of primary aluminum are 

presented as a model of materials inputs to and outputs from the production of primary aluminum from 

bauxite; the model, which was developed by Goonan and Bleiwas, is based upon input and output data 

from the IAI and the European Aluminium Association (EAA). The model consists of the following 

three submodels: (1) a model of the inputs to and outputs from bauxite mining, (2) a model of alumina 

production, and (3) a model of primary aluminum production. The alumina and primary aluminum 

models cover two cases—a model of world plants and a model of European plants. An additional model 

examines the inputs to and outputs from the secondary aluminum production process. These models are 

used to estimate inputs to and outputs from various parts of the bauxite to alumina to aluminum 

production process and the aluminum remelt production process. 

Aluminum consumption per capita and the end uses of aluminum were examined for the 

following high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries with rapidly growing 

economies—Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, the United 

Kingdom, and the United States. End-use data are reported for different classes for different countries. 

In spite of differences in classification, the end-use data suggest some broad changes in the end uses of 

aluminum as income increases. The end-use statistics have been compared with light vehicle 

manufacturing and vehicle aluminum intensity data (Ducker Worldwide LLC, 2008, p. 38) to further 

specify the use of aluminum. Data on commercial aircraft production and weight were collected for four 

important aircraft manufacturers—Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, and Embraer. An estimate that 80 

percent of the weight of an aircraft is aluminum was used with these data to estimate the aluminum in 

use in commercial aircraft. For vehicles and aircraft, scrap that was generated in the process of 

manufacture was estimated.

Future mass flows of aluminum are estimated by two methods. Short- to medium-term (2008 to 

2015) flows were estimated using aluminum outlooks published in the regional summary chapters of 

volume III of the MYB (Fong-Sam and others, 2009, p. 1.17; Anderson and others, 2010, p. 1.27; 

Levine and others, 2010, p. 1.35; Mobbs and others, 2010, p. 1.9; Yager and others, 2010, p. 1.18). The 

outlooks are compilations based upon industry announcements of new or expanded plant capacity. 
8

Longer-term flows are estimated using a logistic regression linking aluminum consumption per capita to 

GDP per capita, which is a measure of income. The model uses the logistic regression, population 

growth rates, and 10-year forecasts of economic growth for each of the 20 most populous countries to 

estimate future consumption. Estimates of aluminum consumption are combined with the models of 

materials inputs and outputs to make status quo estimates of material requirements and the wastes 

generated.
9

3. Findings

3.1. Global Mass Flows of Aluminum

This report considers material flows related to the production, use, and recycling of aluminum at 

the macro and micro levels. The macro-level flows include the production from bauxite, alumina, and 

primary aluminum; the consumption of aluminum by end-use; and the production of secondary 

aluminum. Micro-level flows of materials associated with the production of primary and secondary 

aluminum include the inputs to and outputs from the production of bauxite, alumina, primary aluminum, 

and secondary aluminum. These flows are presented in terms of 1 metric ton (t) of output of each 

product. Environmental issues related to the production of each product are discussed in terms of the 

outputs that result in the issue. 

3.1.1. Macro-Level Flows of Aluminum—Production

Production data on bauxite, alumina, and primary and secondary aluminum production are in 

tables 1 through 3, respectively. Data on the location, ownership, and production capacity of the 

majority of the bauxite, alumina, and aluminum production facilities are in appendixes 1 through 3, 

respectively. For most facilities, appendixes 1 through 3 reflect their characteristics in 2007. 

3.1.1.1. Bauxite

Based upon data in volumes I and III of the MYB, just over 183 million metric tons (Mt) of 

bauxite was produced in 2006; of this amount, 50 Mt was produced in the Americas; 104 Mt, in Asia; 

9.6 Mt, in Europe and Eurasia; and 18.8 Mt, in Africa and the Middle East. Six countries each produced 

more than 10 Mt of bauxite (Australia, 61.8 Mt; China, 27 Mt; Brazil, 22.8 Mt; Guinea, 16.3 Mt; 

Jamaica, 14.9 Mt; and India, 13.9 Mt) and together accounted for 85 percent of global production. The 

distribution of bauxite production reflects the geologic history and climatic factors that favor the 

formation of bauxite as well as economic factors, such as the cost of production at individual sites. 
10

Table 1. Global production of bauxite in 2006.

[Data are from USGS Minerals Yearbook 2007, v. I and III]

Region and country Quantity, in metric tons

Americas:

Brazil 22,836,000

Guyana 1,479,000

Jamaica 14,865,000

Suriname 4,924,000

Venezuela 5,928,000

Total 50,032,000

Asia:

Australia 61,780,000

China 27,000,000

India 13,940,000

Indonesia 1,502,000

Malaysia 92,000 

Pakistan 7,000

Vietnam 30,000

Total 104,351,000

Europe and Eurasia:

Bosnia and Herzegovina 854,000

France 168,000

Greece 2,163,000

Hungry 538,000

Kazakhstan 4,860,000

Russia 1,000,000

Total 9,583,000

Africa and the Middle East:

Ghana 886,000

Guinea 16,300,000

Iran 500,000

Mozambique 11,000

Sierra Leone 1,072,000

Tanzania 5,000

Total 18,774,000

World total 182,740,000

3.1.1.2. Alumina

Global alumina production in 2006 was 74 Mt; of this amount, 20.9 Mt was produced in the 

Americas; 35.1 Mt, in Asia; 16.2 Mt, in Europe and Eurasia; and 0.8 Mt, in Africa and the Middle East. 

Six countries produced more than 4 Mt of alumina—Australia, 18.3 Mt; China, 13.7 Mt; Brazil, 6.8 Mt; 

Russia, 6.4 Mt; the United States, 4.7 Mt; and Jamaica, 4.1 Mt—and they accounted for about 

72 percent of global alumina production. Not all alumina is used to produce aluminum; about 10 percent 

of alumina is used to produce refractory and other chemical products. Thus, about 67 Mt of alumina was 

available for aluminum production. That four of the six leading alumina producers are also among the 

six leading bauxite producers follows from the transportation advantage obtained by colocating alumina 

production facilities near bauxite mines and thereby avoiding the cost of transporting the waste material 

associated with the bauxite.
11

Table 2. Global production of alumina in 2006.

[Data are from USGS Minerals Yearbook 2007, v. I and III]

Region and country Quantity, in metric tons

Americas:

Brazil 6,793,000

Canada 1,281,000

Jamaica 4,100,000

Suriname 2,153,000

United States 4,700,000

Venezuela 1,892,000

Total 20,919,000

Asia:

Australia 18,312,000

China 13,700,000

India 2,800,000

Japan 330,000

Total 35,142,000

Europe and Eurasia:

Azerbaijan 363,000

Bosnia and Herzegovina 394,000

France 200,000

Germany 850,000

Greece 775,000

Hungry 270,000

Ireland 1,800,000

Italy 1,090,000

Kazakhstan 1,515,000

Montenegro 237,000

Romania 622,000

Russia 6,399,000

Spain 1,000,000

Ukraine 1,672,000

Total 16,187,000

Africa and the Middle East:

Guinea 545,000

Iran 250,000

Total 795,000

World total 73,043,000

3.1.1.3. Aluminum

Global production of aluminum in 2006 was about 45.9 Mt; 34 Mt was primary aluminum 

produced by processing bauxite to alumina and then smelting the alumina to produce aluminum, and 

11.8 Mt was secondary aluminum that was recovered from new scrap generated in the aluminum 

production process and old or post-consumer scrap. The Americas produced 7.82 Mt of primary 

aluminum; Asia, 13.0 Mt; Europe and Eurasia, 9.4 Mt; and Africa and the Middle East, 3.86 Mt. Eight 

countries produced at least 1 Mt of primary aluminum—China, 9.36 Mt; Russia, 3.72 Mt; Canada, 

3.05 Mt; the United States, 2.28 Mt; Australia ,1.93 Mt; Brazil, 1.61 Mt; Norway, 1.42 Mt; and India, 

1.10 Mt. Together, these eight countries accounted for about 72 percent of global primary aluminum 

production. Five of the six leading producers of primary aluminum were also among the six leading 

producers of alumina. Canada, which does not produce bauxite and was not one of the six leading 

producers of alumina, was the third ranked producer of primary aluminum. Abundant hydroelectricity 

led to the location of aluminum smelters in Canada. Aluminum smelting is energy intensive, and 

changes in the price and availability of energy result in the location of new smelters in areas with cheap 
12

and available energy. The availability of abundant supplies of natural gas has led to the development of 

significant aluminum smelters in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in recent years. Both countries 

produced more than 850,000 t of aluminum in 2006. New aluminum smelters are being built in Iceland, 

such as the Fjardaal smelter, because of the availability of abundant electricity generated from 

hydropower and geothermal power. The imposition of carbon taxes or carbon emissions pricing could 

significantly affect the location of aluminum smelters as companies move facilities to countries with 

abundant, cheaper energy. The closure of several aluminum smelters in the United States in recent years 

has been, in large part, a response to increased energy costs. 

Of the secondary aluminum output, the Americas produced 4.46 Mt; Asia, 3.57 Mt; and Europe 

and Eurasia, 3.77 Mt. Production of secondary aluminum in Africa and the Middle East was negligible. 

Based upon USGS data, the six leading producers of secondary aluminum in 2006 accounted for 

79 percent of global production of secondary aluminum. The United States produced 3.54 Mt; China, 

2.35 Mt; Japan, 1.07 Mt; Germany, 0.8 Mt; Italy, 0.66 Mt; and Mexico, 0.6 Mt. 

Data on global aluminum flows for 2006 are shown in figure 1, which is modified from 

Martchek (2007). The main modification has been in the end-use classes; the classes used in figure 1 

correspond to USGS usage and contains the classes—construction, durable goods, electrical (power), 

machinery, packaging, transportation, and other. The classes used in Martchek (2007) follow European 

usage—building, engineering and cable, packaging, transportation, and other. Some countries keep a 

separate class for fabricated metal, which includes aluminum used in steelmaking. The classes electrical 

and machinery are particularly important for accounting for aluminum use in countries that are building 

infrastructure and developing a manufacturing sector.

Figure 1 shows global bauxite production inflows in 2006 as 179.5 Mt, which is very similar to 

the USGS estimate of 183.5 Mt, and calculates alumina flows as 65.5 Mt compared with the 67 Mt 

estimated in section 3.1.1.2. Figure 1 also shows primary metal production of 34 Mt, which is 

essentially the same as the production statistics in the MYB. Figure 1 also shows flows of 34.8 Mt of 

recovered metal, 18.4 Mt from metal recovered as scrap from fabrication operations, 8.6 Mt recovered 

from losses during the process of manufacturing goods, and 7.8 Mt of material collected after use by 

consumers. The 18.4 Mt of material “recycled” within the smelter facilities does not get counted in 

government statistics, and many governments do not separately report material recycled from the 

processes of manufacturing goods and material recovered after its use by consumers. The total amount 

of material recovered from both manufacturing and post-consumer use, identified as secondary 

aluminum in government statistics, is estimated to be 16.4 Mt by the IAI but 11.8 Mt by the USGS. The 

IAI data suggest that almost one-half of secondary aluminum is from post-consumer material. Statistics 

on secondary aluminum production in the United States indicate that 35 percent of secondary aluminum 

comes from post-consumer material (Papp, 2009, p. 61.2). All secondary aluminum reported for 

members of the European Union (EU27), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and Japan 

together with the old scrap (post-consumer) portion of secondary aluminum for the United States 

amounts to only 5.4 Mt of material. Clearly, efforts to harmonize these data are warranted. 
13

Table 3. Global production of primary and secondary aluminum in 2006. 

[NA, not available. Data are from USGS Minerals Yearbook 2007, v. I and III]

Region and country Primary, in 

metric tons

Secondary, 

in metric 

tons

Americas:

Argentina 273,000 16,000

Brazil 1,605,000 253,000

Canada 3,051,000 47,000

Mexico NA 600,000

Venezuela 610,000 NA

United States 2,284,000 3,540,000

Total 7,823,000 4,456,000

Asia:

Australia 1,932,000 130,000

China 9,360,000 2,350,000

India 1,104,000 NA

Indonesia 250,000 NA

Japan 57,000 1,070,000

New Zealand 337,000 22,000

Total 13,040,000 3,572,000

Europe and Eurasia:

Austria NA 150,000

Azerbaijan 32,000 NA

Bosnia and Herzegovina 136,000 NA

Bulgaria NA 13,000

Croatia NA 2,000

Czech Republic NA 15,000

Denmark NA 25,000

Finland NA 36,000

France 442,000 222,000

Germany 516,000 796,000

Greece 165,000 3,000

Hungary 34,000 50,000

Iceland 328,000 NA

Italy 194,000 666,000

Montenegro 123,000 NA

Netherlands 312,000 25,000

Norway 1,422,000 349,000

Poland 58,000 19,000

Portugal NA 18,000

Romania 267,000 11,000

Russia 3,718,000 550,000

Serbia NA 1,000

Slovakia 161,000 NA

Slovenia 118,000 20,000

Spain 349,000 243,000

Sweden 101,000 32,000
14

Table 3. Global production of primary and secondary aluminum in 2006.—Continued

[NA, not available. Data are from USGS Minerals Yearbook 2007, v. I and III]

Region and country Primary, in 

metric tons

Secondary, 

in metric 

tons

Europe and Eurasia—Continued:

Switzerland 40,000 190,000

Tajikistan 414,000 NA

Ukraine 113,000 130,000

United Kingdom 360,000 198,000

Uzbekistan NA 3,000

Total 9,403,000 3,767,000

Africa and the Middle East:

Bahrain 860,000 NA

Cameroon 87,000 NA

Egypt 252,000 NA

Ghana 80,000 NA

Iran 205,000 NA

Kenya NA 2,400

Mozambique 564,000 NA

South Africa 895,000 NA

Turkey 60,000 NA

United Arab Emirates 861,000 NA

Total 3,864,000 2,400

World total 34,130,000 11,797,000

3.1.2. Micro-Level Flows of Materials Associated with Aluminum Production

The preceding section of this paper addresses macro-level flows of aluminum to understand the 

production of aluminum goods and associated manufacturing wastes (primary scrap) and the generation 

of post-consumer wastes or scrap. This section of the paper focuses on the materials required to produce 

aluminum and the wastes generated in the production process; it is excerpted and modified from a draft 

manuscript by Goonan and Bleiwas, which presents models of the inputs to and outputs from the 

production of alumina from bauxite and of primary aluminum from alumina. 

The IAI, the EAA, and others have been developing information on part of the aluminum life 

cycle through an Aluminum Sector Addendum, which addresses the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (for 

accounting and reporting) developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in 

concert with the World Resources Institute. The IAI and EAA reports are the primary data sources for 

the information presented here. 

The materials flows discussed in the sections that follow cover the primary production of 

aluminum, including bauxite mining (open pit), alumina production (Bayer process) and electrolytic 

smelting (Hall-Héroult process), and the production of secondary aluminum. Materials flow data in this 

report are taken from a 2008 report by the EAA, which developed two models (one for European plants 

and another for plants worldwide) for the various steps of the process to produce aluminum from 

bauxite. This report provides information about the steps used in primary aluminum production and is 

addressed to those interested in the generation of GHGs, red mud, and other effluvia associated with 

primary aluminum production. The inclusion of two models allows for the comparison of reductions in 

wastes that may be achieved just from adopting currently available technologies on a wider basis. Other 

opportunities for reducing air emissions by adopting enhanced technologies are discussed later in this 

section.
15

3.1.2.1. Bauxite Mining

The aluminum industry consumes nearly 90 percent of the bauxite mined; the remainder is used 

in abrasives, cement, ceramics, chemicals, metallurgical flux, refractory products, and miscellaneous 

products (Bray, 2010b). There are three main types of bauxite ore. They include trihydrate, which 

consists chiefly of gibbsite, Al2O3•3H2O; monohydrate, which consists mainly of boehmite, Al2O3•H2O; 

and mixed bauxite, which consists of gibbsite and boehmite. The proportion of trihydrate and 

monohydrate ores in this type of bauxite differs from deposit to deposit as do the type and amount of 

impurities, such as clay, iron oxide, silica, and titania. Clay, free silica, iron hydroxide, and silt are also 

common constituents of bauxite ore. The alumina content of bauxite ores ranges from 31 to 52 percent, 

averaging about 41 percent on a production-weighted basis (International Aluminium Institute, 2009b). 

This study addresses the flow of metallurgical-grade bauxite ores used to produce aluminum. These ores 

typically have a minimum Al2O3 content of 50 to 55 percent with a texture that ranges from powdery 

clay to indurated (hardened by cementation) masses.

Bauxite mining operations generally require a large support network, which often requires 

significant capital and operating costs. The great majority of the world’s bauxite ores are extracted by 

open-cut methods. Before mining of the ores can commence, it is usually necessary to remove 

overburden and to preserve the topsoil for post-mining rehabilitation. Most mines require the removal of 

1 or 2 meters (m) of overburden (International Aluminium Institute, 2009b; Royal Boskalis Westminster

NV, 2010). Bauxite ore bodies vary from 2 to 20 m in thickness (International Aluminium Institute, 

2009b). The aerial extent can be highly variable. 

Diesel-powered bulldozers, backhoes, front-end loaders, excavators, and haulage trucks are the 

principal tools used to remove and haul overburden and ore. The amount of equipment and the size of 

the equipment are dictated to a large extent by the mining environment (wet or dry, for example), 

stripping ratio, scale of production or capacity, and distance to shipment points. Additional equipment 

and materials required for the mining operation include roads, support vehicles, repair facilities, town 

site (houses, hospital, schools, and so forth), energy and freshwater production and distribution, 

communication systems, parts, and supplies. Rail and port facilities may be necessary, depending upon 

the location of the mine. 

Some bauxite ores can be shipped directly to an alumina refinery without treatment because they 

are of sufficient grade and purity. Other ores may require added steps, such as size reduction and 

moisture content reduction prior to shipping. At some sites, the ore grade may be increased by removal 

of clays and other impurities by washing, wet screening, cycloning, and (or) sorting. Flotation is 

sometimes used to reduce the silica content of an ore. Blending of ores may also be used to maintain 

grade uniformity to meet specifications. Wastes (mostly clays) produced from processing are 

transported to and stored in tailings ponds. Ore that is to be transported appreciable distances to 

refineries is often dried to reduce shipping costs. 

A small open pit bauxite mine may have an annual capacity of roughly 500,000 t of ore whereas 

the annual capacity of the largest mines approximates 23 Mt. Annual capacities of 3 Mt to 15 Mt of ore 

characterize most of the world’s open pit bauxite operations. Bauxite mines operate for long periods of 

time; some as long as 100 years or more. Presently, the amount of land being opened for new or 

expanded bauxite mining equals the amount of post-mining land being rehabilitated, such that the total 

land use for bauxite mining worldwide would equal approximately one-half of the land area of 

Manhattan Island (New York City). The greatest difference between pre- and post-mining land use is a 

tradeoff between farming (11 to 12 percent) and native forest (49 to 60 percent) (International 

Aluminium Institute, 2009b). Figure 2, which shows the bauxite mining process flow, is based on a 

description of bauxite mining at the Alcoa-owned Juruti Mine in Brazil (Alcoa Inc., 2009). 
16

The EAA has modeled the typical world bauxite mine. Figure 3 shows the generalized materials 

flows associated with world bauxite mining (European Aluminium Association, 2008). Inputs and 

outputs per metric ton of bauxite mined are measured in kilograms (gross), metric tons (gross), and 

cubic meters. The model presented in figure 3 does not include materials included in overburden or 

mine waste.

Figure 2. Diagram showing a typical process flow for bauxite mining. Data are from Alcoa Inc. (2009).
Figure 3. Diagram showing selected materials flows for a World bauxite mine model. Data are from European 

Aluminium Association (2008, p. 23). kg, kilogram; kWh, kilowatthour; m3, cubic meter; t, metric ton.

17

3.1.2.2. Alumina Production (Refining)

Virtually all alumina commercially produced from bauxite is obtained by a process patented by 

Karl Josef Bayer (Austria) in 1888. The Bayer process involves the following steps: 

• Digestion.—Bauxite is ground and slurried into a caustic soda (NaOH), which is then pumped into 

large pressure tanks called digesters. The sodium hydroxide reacts with the alumina minerals to 

form soluble sodium aluminate (NaAlOH).

• Clarification.—The solution from the digestion step is depressurized and processed through 

cyclones to remove coarse sand. The remaining fluid is processed in thickeners where flocculants 

are added to agglomerate solids, which are removed by cloth filters. These residues (red mud) are 

washed, combined, and discarded, and the clarified solution (containing the NaAlOH) is passed to 

the next step.

• Precipitation.—The solution from the clarification step is seeded with alumina seed (very small) 

crystals to aid precipitation of larger agglomerated alumina crystals. The product-sized crystals are 

separated from the small crystals (recycled as seed) and are washed to remove entrained caustic 

residue. The agglomerates are moved to the next step.
18

• Calcination.—The agglomerates of NaAlOH are placed in rotary kilns or stationary fluidized-bed 

calciners at temperatures that can exceed 960oC (1,750 oF), which drives off the chemically 

combined water, leaving a residue of commercial-grade alumina (Plunkert, 2006; Pontikes, 2005a). 

Figure 4 shows the process flow for alumina refining (CiDRA Minerals Processing, Inc., 2010). 

Materials flows within the Bayer process are dependent on the grade of the bauxite being 

processed and the amount and character of the nonalumina minerals contained in the bauxite. Figure 5 

shows selected materials flows for a model “European” and “World” alumina refinery in 2005 

(European Aluminium Association, 2008). 

Figure 5 presents the inputs to and outputs from alumina production per metric ton of alumina as 

kilograms (gross), metric tons (gross), and cubic meters of the various materials. In 2005, the amount of 

bauxite required for a model European and World alumina refinery to produce 1 t of alumina was 2.2 t 

and 2.7 t, respectively, which indicates that, on average, European smelters were processing higher 

grade bauxite than the rest of the world. Red mud production from these models followed this trend 

reciprocally—that is, 706 kilograms per metric ton (kg/t) for the European model, and 1,142 kg/t for the 

World model (European Aluminium Association, 2008). Reduction of red mud waste by processing 

higher grade bauxite is not likely to represent a strategy for long-term sustainable production of 

aluminum because average grades of metals produced typically decline with time, as higher grade 

deposits are produced before lower grade ones. 

The most important output from the Bayer process after alumina is red mud. The composition of 

red mud worldwide varies as follows: Fe2O3, 30 to 60 percent; Al2O3, 10 to 20 percent; SiO2, 3 to 

50 percent; Na2O, 2 to 10 percent; CaO, 2 to 8 percent; and TiO2, trace to 25 percent. Red mud is a 

highly complex material and its ultimate chemistry depends on the nature of the original bauxite ore. It 

is highly alkaline and contains a variety of elements and mineral species in small sizes and contains as 

much as 50 percent water (Pontikes, 2005b). 

In the past, red mud has been disposed of at sea or contained in lined lake-size containment 

compounds (Pontikes, 2005c). While these practices still are used, research is ongoing to find better 

ways to recycle and reuse red mud—for example, as building materials (bricks, and roofing and flooring 

tiles), catalysts, ceramics, fillers, fertilizers, lightweight aggregates, metallurgical fluxes, and in the 

recovery of other metals (Pontikes, 2005d–e). In 2008, alumina refining worldwide produced about 

93.2 Mt of red mud, of which 83.9 Mt was attributable to aluminum production. The reuse of red mud 

offers an opportunity to develop new industries based upon the wastes from alumina production. 
19

Figure 4. Diagram showing a typical process flow for alumina refining. From CIDRA Minerals Processing, Inc.

(2010), used with permission.
20

Figure 5. Diagram showing selected materials flows under the European and World alumina refinery models. 

European model data are in plain black text, and World model data are in underlined red italic text. Data are from 

European Aluminium Association (2008, p. 24).

3.1.2.3. Aluminum Smelting and Electrolysis

Primary aluminum is produced by the electrolysis of alumina dissolved in molten fluoride salt. 

The process was independently invented in 1886 by Charles Martin Hall (United States) and Paul Louis 

Toussaint Héroult (France) and underwent continual improvement over the years. In the Hall-Héroult 

electrolytic reduction cell, alumina and aluminum fluoride are the material feedstocks. The carbon in 

anodes, which are either prebaked (in 90 percent of operations) or Söderberg-type (in 10 percent of 

operations), are consumed by reaction with the oxygen in the alumina to form carbon dioxide, which is 

ultimately released to the atmosphere. Figure 6 shows the process flows for aluminum smelting (Beck, 

2008; European Aluminium Association, 2008). Ancillary to the aluminum reduction cell process is 

anode manufacturing, which generates additional emissions of concern. 
21

Figure 6. Diagram showing a typical process flow for aluminum smelting. Copied by permission from the 

Electrochemistry Encyclopedia (http://electrochem.cwru.edu/encycl/) on March 1, 2010; the original material is 

subject to periodic changes and updates.

Anodes are critical to aluminum reduction. They carry the electric charge (which drives the 

reaction) to the cryolite (the alumina solvent) in the reduction cell, and they provide the carbon (which 

causes the anode to be continuously consumed) for the reduction reaction that strips the oxygen from the 

alumina and removes it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. There are two primary technologies used 

to produce anodes for the Hall-Héroult process—Söderberg and prebake. Söderberg anodes begin as 

semiliquid constructions that are continuously fed into the molten cryolite bath. Prebaked anodes are 

preformed and hardened in gas-fired ovens at high temperatures. Prebaked anodes are then fed into the 

cryolite bath. The major difference is that the Söderberg anode hardens with heat generated from the 

electrolytic process as it descends into the cryolite bath, and the prebaked anode is hardened before use 

in the electrolytic cell. The newest and largest aluminum smelters generally use prebaked anodes, which 

are more efficient.

To produce a prebaked anode, petroleum coke and pitch are blended together and baked in 

ovens. Anode manufacturing generates additional materials flows. Figures 7 through 10 show selected 

materials flows for the anode-making process of model European and World plants in 2005 (European 

Aluminium Association, 2008). Figure 7 shows the inputs and outputs to produce 1 t of anode. 

European anode plants require 3 percent more thermal energy than World anode plants and 12 percent 

more electricity; however, the European plants produce slightly less air (fig. 8) and water emissions and 

significantly less solid wastes (fig. 9). European anode plants recycle slightly more refractory materials 

and slightly less steel than World plants but significantly more other solid wastes (fig. 10). 
22

Figure 7. Diagram showing selected materials flows for the anode-making process of model European and 

World plants. European model data are in plain black text, and World model data are in underlined red italic text. 

Data are from European Aluminium Association (2008, p. 24). NA, not available; kg, kilogram; kWh, kilowatthour; 

m3, cubic meter; t, metric ton; TJ, terajoule. Greenhouse gases are discussed separately in the text.
23

Figure 8. Bar chart showing air emissions for the anode-making process of model European and World plants. 

Gaseous fluoride and fluoride particles are expressed as contained fluorine. NOx, nitrous oxide; NO2, nitrogen 

dioxide; PAH, polycyclic hydrocarbon; SO2, sulfur dioxide.
24

Figure 9. Bar chart showing externally recycled waste products for the anode-making process of model 

European and World plants. 
25

Figure 10. Bar chart showing solid waste (landfill) for the anode-making process of model European and World 

plants. 

In the European and World models of the aluminum smelting process, the salient input flows to 

produce 1 t of anode are, respectively,737 kg and 681 kg of petroleum coke, 173 kg and 171 kg of pitch, 

2.7 terajoules (TJ) and 2.6 TJ of fuel energy, and about 145 kilowatthours (kWh) and 129 kWh of 

electricity (figs. 7 through 10). The corresponding output flows (exclusive of GHGs) of significance are, 

respectively, 1.5 kg and 2.0 kg of SO2 and 5.3 kg and 24.5 kg of various materials to landfill storage. Of 

primary environmental concern is the generation of GHG (CO2).

The principal inputs to the aluminum smelting process are alumina, aluminum fluoride (AlF2), 

carbon (as anodes), and electricity. The principal outputs are aluminum metal, CO2, and some solid 

wastes. In the European and World models of the aluminum smelting process (Hall-Héroult process), 

the salient input flows to produce 1 t of aluminum metal are, respectively, 1.93 t and 1.92 t of alumina, 

about 428 kg and 435 kg of anode paste, and about 14,914 kilowatthours (kWh) and 15,289 kWh of 

electricity (figs. 11 through 15). In 1930, about 25 megawatthours per metric ton of aluminum was 

required (Rosenqvist, 2004, p. 449). The corresponding output flows (exclusive of GHGs) of 

significance are, respectively, 8.2 kg and 14.9 kg of SO2, about 1.1 kg and 3.4 kg of fluorine to air 

(0.6 kg and 0.3 kg to water), and 28.5 kg and 33.2 kg of various materials to landfill storage. 
26

Figure 11. Diagram showing selected materials flows for models of European and World aluminum smelters. 

European model data are in plain black text, and World model data are in underlined red italic text. Data are from 

European Aluminium Association (2008, p. 27). kg, kilogram; kWh, kilowatthour; t, metric ton. Greenhouse gases 

are discussed separately in the text.
27

Figure 12. Bar chart showing air emissions for models of European and World aluminum smelters. NOx, nitrous 

oxide; NO2, nitrogen dioxide; PAH, polycyclic hydrocarbon; SO2, sulfur dioxide; CF4, tetrafluoromethane; C2F6, 

hexafluoroethane.
28

Figure 13. Bar chart showing emissions to water for models of European and World aluminum smelters. F, 

fluorine.
29

Figure 14. Bar chart showing externally recycled waste for models of European and World aluminum smelters.
30

Figure 15. Bar chart showing solid waste for models of European and World aluminum smelters.

3.1.2.3.1. Aluminum Smelting and Electrolysis —Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A greenhouse gas (GHG) is an atmospheric gas that is believed to contribute to climate change 

by increasing the ability of the atmosphere to trap heat. Different species of such gases have differing 

abilities to trap heat. Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of the relative effectiveness of a 

GHG to affect climate. The heat-trapping ability of 1 t of CO2 is the common standard, and emissions 

are expressed in terms of CO2 equivalent (CO2e). 

The burning of fossil fuels for energy production, transportation, and industrial activities is 

among the human activities that can contribute CO2 and other GHG emissions to the atmosphere. 

Aluminum smelting is one of the industrial activities under study because the process emits significant 

quantities of carbon dioxide and some PFC gases. 

Although PFCs emitted from aluminum smelters are not considered toxins or ozone-depleting 

gases (Simmonds and others, 2002), they are considered to be GHGs. PFCs are of particular concern 

because they have a greater GWP per unit of emission than CO2. It has been estimated that 1 t of 

tetrafluoromethane (CF4) has the equivalent GWP of 6,500 t of CO2 and that 1 t of hexafluoroethane 

(C2F6) has the equivalent GWP of 9,200 t of CO2 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006; 

International Aluminium Institute, 2009c). Aluminum smelting and the manufacturing of electronic 

chips are the largest known anthropogenic sources of PFCs (Aslam and others, 2003; U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). Figure 16 shows the flows of fluorine within the aluminum 

smelting process. Available information is insufficient to calculate all the flow quantities; however, they 

are represented in the diagram as either a number reported for the World model smelter, or as “kg,” 
31

indicating a flow of “unknown” kilograms of fluorine per metric ton of aluminum produced (European 

Aluminium Association, 2008).

PFCs have an extremely stable molecular structure relative to other anthropogenic gases in the 

atmosphere and are largely immune to the chemical processes that break down most atmospheric 

pollutants in the lower atmosphere. Not until the PFCs reach the mesosphere, about 60 kilometers above 

Earth, do very-high-energy ultraviolet rays from the Sun destroy them. This removal mechanism is 

extremely slow and, as a result, PFCs accumulate in the atmosphere and possibly remain there for 

several thousand years (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006). 

In 2006, GHG emissions worldwide totaled about 51 billion metric tons (Gt). Taken together, 

the aluminum, copper, nickel, and steel industries accounted for 2.62 Gt, or about 5.2 percent of total 

GHG emissions. The USGS estimates, based on the relative production levels of aluminum, copper, 

nickel, and steel in 2008, that the aluminum industry contributed 0.45 Gt of CO2e GHG.

Significant amounts of GHGs are emitted during the mining, concentrating, smelting, and 

refining of metals. Table 4 provides a perspective on how the process of producing aluminum from 

bauxite compares with processes for the production of other metals with regard to the generation of 

GHGs (Carbon Emitters, 2009).
32

Figure 16. Diagram of sources and distribution of fluorine during aluminum smelting. Available information was insufficient to calculate all the flow 

quantities and a standalone “kg” is used to indicate a flow of “unknown” kilograms of fluorine per metric ton of aluminum produced. AlF3, aluminum 

fluorine; kg, kilogram; PFC, perfluorocarbon.
33

Table 4. Selected metals industry contributions to greenhouse gas emissions in 2006.

[Data are from Carbon Emitters (2009). CO2e, carbon dioxide equivalent]

Metal industry

Production, 

in million 

metric tons

Greenhouse 

gas 

emission, in 

billion metric 

tons of CO2e 

Share of 

world 

greenhouse 

gas 

emissions, 

in percent

Share of 

fossil fuel 

greenhouse 

gases, in 

percent

Aluminum 33 0.41 0.8 1.2

Copper 13.5 0.04 0.1 0.1

Nickel 1.4 0.04 0.1 0.1

Steel 1,250 2.13 4.2 6.3

Aluminum production generates not only PFCs during anode events (discussed separately 

below) but also large quantities of CO2 from the use of electricity that is generated from the combustion 

of hydrocarbons, fuel, and process-generated reduction reactions. The World Business Council and the 

World Resource Institute have suggested a GHG reporting protocol that accounts for GHG generation 

on a corporate basis. GHGs attributable to imported materials and energy flows are accounted to the 

ex-corporate generator—for example, the GHG generated by hydrocarbon-originated electricity that is 

imported (across the corporate fence, for example, a public utility) would be considered as “indirect” 

with respect to the subject corporation (International Aluminium Institute, 2003). 

Martchek (2007) calculated (based on a model of the global aluminum industry) the CO2e 

emissions for the several steps of global aluminum production through semifabrication. Table 5 presents 

those results. Martchek estimated that the intensity of GHG emissions for the global aluminum industry 

(mining through semifabricated aluminum shipments) decreased to 8.2 t of CO2e per metric ton of 

semifabricated aluminum shipped in 2005 from 11.0 t of CO2e per metric ton of semifabricated 

aluminum shipped in 1990, and projected that the level will be 6.1 t of CO2e per metric ton of 

semifabricated aluminum shipped in 2032. Drivers for the historic and expected improvement include 

increased recycling and lower emissions from primary aluminum smelters owing to technology 

improvements (Martchek, 2007). 

Table 5. Greenhouse gas emission intensity of primary aluminum operations in 2005.

[Unless specified otherwise, units are in kilograms (kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent per metric ton of aluminum 

(CO2e/t_Al). Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are weighted higher than CO2 for global warming potential (GWP); in terms of GWP, 

1 metric ton (t) of carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) is equivalent to 6,500 t of CO2, and 1 t of hexafluoroethane (C2F6) is equivalent 

to 9,200 t of CO2. NA, not available; XX, not applicable. Data are from Martchek (2007)]

Contributor

Production step

Mining Refining Anodes Smelting

Mining through smelting 

Quantity Percentage of 

CO2e/t_Al

Electricity NA 58 63 5,147 5,268 57.0

Fuels 16 754 135 133 1,038 11.2

Perfluorocarbons NA NA NA 960 960 10.4

Process NA NA 388 1,582 1,970 21.3

Total 16 812 586 7,822 9,236 XX

Percentage of total 0.17 8.79 6.34 84.69 XX XX
34

3.1.2.3.2. Aluminum Smelting and Electrolysis —Generation of PFCs (Anode Events)

The normal reduction process is represented by the following chemical equation:

2Al2O3+ 3C → 4Al + 3CO2. (1)

On occasion, there is an overvoltage disturbance in the cell. These episodes, termed “anode 

events,” are triggered by an insufficient amount of alumina in the cell. The anode event causes the 

fluorine contained in the cryolite and aluminum fluoride to react with the carbon anodes to form the 

gases tetrafluoromethane (CF4) and hexafluoroethane (C2F6), often referred to as perfluorocarbons 

(PFCs). An anode event is represented by the following chemical equation:

Na3AlF6+ nC → (CF2)n → CF4, C2F6. (2)

A typical anode event may have a duration of approximately 2 minutes and have a frequency of 

0.2 to 1.5 cells per day for a smelter with 150 to 300 cells (Fraser and others, 2009). The frequency and 

duration of anode events have been reduced considerably since the late 20th century as old plants are 

phased out and new plants are constructed with improved monitoring of the cell conditions in the 

molten “bath” and advances in plant design. 

3.1.2.3.3. Industry Performance Goals

The IAI and its member companies have adopted through the Alumina for Future Generations 

program a number of performance targets related to the release of certain production wastes. Among 

these goals is the reduction of PFC emissions by 2020 to 50 percent of 2006 levels. This corresponds to 

a level of emissions of .5 t of CO2e per metric ton of aluminum. The IAI has adopted a goal of achieving 

a 33 percent reduction from the 1990 level of 2.4 kg of fluorine per metric ton of aluminum produced by 

2010. IAI also adopted a goal to reduce the amount of electrical energy used in aluminum smelting by 

10 percent to 14.5 megawatthours (MWh) from 1990 levels by 2010. Finally, IAI adopted a goal of 

reducing energy use per metric ton of alumina refined by 10 percent from 2006 levels to 14.4 gigajoules 

per metric ton of aluminum by 2020 (International Aluminium Institute, 2009a). 

3.1.2.4. Materials Inputs to and Outputs from Secondary Aluminum Production

Secondary aluminum is recovered from the processing of various kinds of aluminum scrap, 

including casting alloys, dross (a mixture of alumina, metal, and other materials), packaging, turnings, 

used beverage cans, wire and cable, and wrought alloys,. Alumina (Al2O3) that comes into the remelting 

system or that is generated within the system cannot be thermodynamically reduced to aluminum and 

therefore leaves the system as a nonmetallic residue, which ultimately is sold to the cement industry or 

used as backfill for mine recovery.

For primary aluminum production, there are environmental concerns about GHGs (CO2, CF4, 

and C2F6) and land use for mining and disposal of red mud (Bayer process residue) and smelter wastes 

(spent pot liner and other). Recovering aluminum from scrap to produce secondary aluminum ingot 

consumes about 6 percent of the energy required to produce primary aluminum. This significant energy 

difference is responsible for the emphasis placed on aluminum recycling in today’s society and in the 

aluminum industry. Furthermore, to achieve a given output of ingot, recycled aluminum requires only 

about 10 percent of the capital equipment costs compared with those required for the production of 

primary aluminum (BCS, Inc., 2007, p. 64). Fluorocarbon gases are not produced with secondary 

smelting. The principal GHG is CO2 and, because of the lower energy consumption, very much less is 

generated than is produced in primary smelting. 
35

Boin and Bertram (2005) reported on the efforts of 15 European Union members to construct a 

model for secondary aluminum in Europe—European Scrap Smelting Unit Model (ESSUM). In 2002, 

ESSUM showed that producing 1 t of aluminum metal alloy required 936 kg of scrap, 81 kg of turnings, 

33 kg of alloys, 33 kg of dross, 16 kg of oxide, and 2 kg of salt (fig. 17).

Figure 17. Diagram showing selected material flows for a European secondary aluminum smelter model in 2002. 

Data are from European Aluminum Association (2008). kg, kilogram; kWh, kilowatthour; t, metric ton.

Scrap for processing in secondary smelters can come from many sources and can be of various 

types. One convenient means to categorize scrap generation is by life cycle stage, which would include 

production (smelting), fabrication (making usable shapes of various alloys for further processing), 

manufacturing (machining shapes to make parts for assemblies), and end-of-life (recovery of old scrap 

from economic sectors). Scrap can also be assigned to different processing modes. Remelters usually 

operate flux-free furnaces that treat clean, identified, and essentially new scrap generated from 

fabrication and manufacturing operations. Remelters make specific alloys, usually for wrought products. 

Refiners deal with dross (skimmings) foundry scrap, and much of the end-of-life scrap. Refiners make 

foundry alloys and deoxidation alloys for the steel industry. 

The difference in the generation of gas between primary and secondary aluminum smelting is 

significant. One investigator estimated GHG emissions (from the production of alumina through the 
36

casting of primary aluminum) within the EU27 to be about 11 Mt of CO2e whereas secondary remelting 

and refining generated 0.88 Mt and 0.96 Mt of CO2e, respectively. The substitution of secondary for 

primary aluminum product can significantly reduce GHG emissions (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems 

and Innovations Research, 2009). 

Secondary aluminum processing is heavily dependent on natural gas consumption. Furnaces that 

use natural gas can generate NOx, which is a precursor to ozone (Metals Advisor, 2010). Life cycle 

analysis could be used to measure NOx and to develop strategies to reduce emissions. 

3.1.3. Global Mass Flows of Aluminum—Consumption

3.1.3.1. Consumption—Overview

IAI has summarized the disposition of aluminum as a total in finished products (40.4 Mt in 

2006) and as net additions to products in use (24.4 Mt in 2006), which are distributed among the 

following end uses: 

• buildings (32 percent) 

• engineering and cable (28 percent)

• packaging (1 percent)

• transportation (28 percent), including automobiles (16 percent) 

• other (11 percent) 

This section examines the apparent consumption of aluminum for the 20 most populous 

countries to show how aluminum consumption varies among countries. The next section will examine 

consumption by end use. 

Consumption of aluminum can be measured at different points in the cycle of material use. 

Consumption can be measured either as the quantity of material that goes into goods manufactured 

within the country (industrial consumption) or as the quantity of material in goods consumed by 

inhabitants of the country (final consumption). Industrial consumption can be easily estimated as the 

amount of aluminum produced in the country plus imports of aluminum less exports of aluminum. Final 

consumption is much more difficult to measure as it requires at a minimum knowledge of the goods 

consumed and their aluminum content. 

Previous studies (DeYoung and Menzie, 1999; Menzie, DeYoung, and Steblez, 2001) have 

shown that industrial consumption per capita in a country is related to the average national income level 

of the country as measured by GDP per capita. Table 6 presents data on and figure 18 is a plot of the 

aluminum consumption per capita versus the GDP per capita in 2006 for the 20 most populous countries 

(which are, in order of population, China, India, the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, 

Bangladesh, Russia, Nigeria, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, Germany, Ethiopia, Egypt, Turkey, 

Iran, Thailand, and France). Together these countries consumed 30.3 Mt of aluminum in 2006, or about 

two-thirds of global production. In general, countries with a GDP per capita of less than $5,000 

consume less than 5 kg of aluminum per capita; countries with a GDP per capita between $5,000 and 

$15,000 consume between 5 and 10 kg of aluminum per capita; and countries with per capita incomes 

of greater than $25,000 consume between 15 and 35 kg of aluminum per capita. The change in 

per capita consumption that accompanies an increase in income is dramatic and is an important factor in 

understanding the likely future consumption of aluminum both at a country level and globally. 
37

Table 6. Aluminum consumption per capita versus gross domestic product per capita for the 20 most populous 

countries in 2006.

[GDPpp, gross domestic product purchasing power parity; GDP/c pp, gross domestic product per capita purchasing power 

parity. GDPpp data are from the International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook Data Base (October 2009); 

population data are from the U.S. Census Bureau International Data Base (March 2010); aluminum consumption data are 

from USGS Minerals Yearbook 2007, v. I and III] 

Country Population, in 

millions

GDPpp, in 

billion 

dollars

Aluminum 

consumption, in 

thousand metric 

tons

GDP/c pp, in 

dollars

Aluminum 

consumption per 

capita, in kilograms 

per capita

China 1,304 $8,220 8,648 $6,300 6.63

India 1,108 3,770 1,080 3,400 0.97

United States 298 12,500 9,173 42,000 30.74

Indonesia 232 858 288 3,700 1.24

Brazil 192 1,610 1,044 8,400 5.45

Pakistan 166 399 34 2,400 0.21

Bangladesh 150 315 24 2,100 0.16

Russia 142 1,520 1,047 10,700 7.37

Nigeria 140 140 11 1,000 0.08

Japan 128 3,910 3,393 30,700 26.61

Mexico 107 1,080 725 10,100 6.75

Philippines 95 486 26 5,100 0.28

Vietnam 85 256 88 3,000 1.03

Germany 82 2,460 2,619 29,800 31.78

Ethiopia 77 62 0 800 0.00

Egypt 74 326 110 4,400 1.48

Turkey 74 582 433 7,900 5.88

Iran 65 526 168 8,100 2.59

Thailand 65 537 407 8,300 6.29

France 63 1,900 945 30,000 14.92
38

Figure 18. Graph showing aluminum consumption per capita measured against gross domestic product per 

capita for the 20 most populous countries in 2006.

3.1.3.2. Consumption—End Uses

This section presents statistics on the end uses of aluminum for selected populous countries, 

including Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, the United 

Kingdom, and the United States. Table 7 presents data on the percentage of aluminum consumption for 

various end uses in these countries. The data are available for different years and use somewhat 

different end-use classifications, which limit the conclusions that can be drawn from the data. 

Table 7. Percentage of aluminum consumption by end use in populous countries with developing economies and 

selected high-income countries.

[XX, not applicable. Data are from Boltramovich, Dudarev, and Gorelov (2003, p. 126), Indian Bureau of Mines (2008), and 

Associação Brasileira do Alumínio (undated)]

End use

Developing economies

Argentina

(2008) 

Brazil

(2008) 

China

(2009) 

India

(2007) Mexico Russia

Construction 21.4 11.3 40 13 6 7

Transportation 22 25.8 18 18 38 19

Electrical (power) 15.7 11.6 12 31 21 18

Durable goods 6.9 8.7 11 12 9 10

Packaging 19.3 28.7 9 11 6 3

Machinery and equipment 4.7 4 8 6 12 40

Fabricated metal 6.3 XX XX XX XX XX

Others 4.1 9.9 2 9 8 3
39

Table 7. Percentage of aluminum consumption by end use in populous countries with developing economies and 

selected high-income countries.—Continued

[XX, not applicable. Data are from Boltramovich, Dudarev, and Gorelov (2003, p. 126), Indian Bureau of Mines (2008), and 

Associação Brasileira do Alumínio (undated)]

High-income countries

France

(2004) 

Germany

(2006) 

United 

Kingdom

(2006) 

Western 

Europe

(2006) 

Japan

(2006) 

United 

States

(2006) 

Construction 21 16.0 30 25 13.2 13.0

Transportation 36 44.1 21 36 40.5 38.0

Electrical XX 6.0 XX XX 4.5 5.0

Durables XX 4.6 XX XX XX 7.0

Packaging 10 9.3 21 17 10.2 26.0

Machinery XX 8.4 XX XX 3.9 7.0

Engineering 31 XX 28 14 XX XX

Fabricated metal XX 5.6 XX XX 11.6 XX

Other 2 6.0 XX 8 16.1 4.0

Nevertheless, the data when combined with data on the GDP per capita do suggest that several 

important changes in the consumption of aluminum occur as income increases. First, the data show that 

aluminum consumption for electrical end uses decreases with increasing income (fig. 19). Second, the 

data show that aluminum consumption for transportation end uses increases with rising income (fig. 20). 

Figure 19. Graph showing percentage of aluminum consumption in electrical end uses against gross domestic 

product per capita.
40

Figure 20. Graph showing percentage of aluminum consumption in transportation end uses against gross 

domestic product per capita.

These changes in the use of aluminum with income have important implications for aluminum 

recycling. Because aluminum in electrical systems is typically in service for long periods of time, the 

amount of aluminum available for recycling in countries with lower but rapidly growing incomes is 

likely to be delayed relative to countries with higher incomes. Transportation is the leading end use of 

aluminum in high-income countries, and automobiles are typically the leading use of aluminum in 

transportation. Because automobiles typically have in-service time periods of about 10 years, higher 

income countries have a larger supply of aluminum scrap available for trade or recycling than do 

countries that do not use automobiles for transportation or are only beginning to use automobiles as a 

primary mode of transportation. The transition from lower to higher incomes thus is accompanied by an 

increased availability of relatively easily recoverable aluminum. Of course, in-service times will create 

delays in the availability of this material.

Packaging is another end use that has a short in-service lifespan. Packaging, such as used 

beverage cans, can be easily collected, crushed, packaged, and recycled, and where widely used, they 

represent a ready source of post-consumer aluminum scrap. Use of aluminum packaging varies 

considerably, but inconsistently, with income. Factors other than income appear to play an important 

role in determining the proportion of aluminum used in packaging. 

Because transportation becomes a more important component of aluminum end use as incomes 

rise, this study examines several components of the transportation end use in some detail. 

3.1.3.2.1. Consumption for Transportation—Light Vehicles

The production and use of automobiles and light commercial vehicles is a major component of 

transportation and one that grows rapidly with rising income. Estimates of the amount of aluminum in 
41

light vehicles can be calculated using statistics on vehicle production published by the International 

Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) (2007) and data on the intensity of use of 

aluminum in vehicles (Ducker Worldwide, LLC, 2008, p. 38). Ducker Worldwide, LLC (2008, p. 10) 

has published data on the aluminum content of vehicles by region or country for 2009 for North 

America, the European Union, Japan, a world average, the Republic of Korea, China, India and other 

Asia, Russia and other Europe, South America, and the Middle East. The company has published data 

for both 2006 and 2009 for North America, the European Union, and Japan (Ducker Worldwide, LLC, 

2008, p. 10).

These data suggest that in 2006, aluminum use per vehicle was about 4 percent lower than in 

2009. Therefore, the 2009 regional aluminum intensities were adjusted. Table 8 includes these adjusted 

(calculated) aluminum intensity data, along with vehicle production data, the estimated amount of 

aluminum used in light vehicles, aluminum consumption in 2006, and estimated aluminum consumption 

in transportation end uses. The calculated aluminum content of vehicles is the product of the number of 

vehicles and the estimate of the aluminum intensity of vehicles. The estimated consumption of 

aluminum is from the World Bureau of Metal Statistics. The estimated aluminum consumption in 

transportation end uses is based on World Bureau of Metal Statistics data and the transportation end-use 

percentages. About 69 million light vehicles were manufactured in 2006 containing approximately 

7.8 Mt of aluminum for an average content of 113 kilograms per vehicle. Vehicles manufactured in 

North America contained the most aluminum, averaging 143 kilograms per vehicle, and vehicles 

manufactured in Africa and the Middle East contained the least aluminum, averaging 66 kilograms per 

vehicle.
42

Table 8. Vehicle production, aluminum intensity, aluminum use in light vehicles, aluminum consumption, and 

selected data on aluminum consumption in transportation end uses.

[XX, not applicable. Production data are from International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (2007). 

Estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits] 

Country

Total 

vehicles

produced

Aluminum 

intensity, in 

kilograms per 

vehicle

Aluminum 

used in light 

vehicles, in 

metric tons

Aluminum 

consumption in 

2006, in metric 

tons

Estimated 

aluminum 

consumption in 

transportation end 

uses, in metric 

tons

Argentina 432,101 67 28,951 145,600 32,000

Australia 330,900 78 25,810 439,600 XX

Austria 274,932 118 32,442 419,700 XX

Belgium 918,056 118 108,331 466,900 XX

Brazil 2,611,034 67 174,939 1,044,400 269,000

Canada 2,572,292 143 367,838 1,030,800 XX

China 7,188,708 96 690,116 8,648,100 1,560,000

Czech Republic 854,907 118 100,879 129,600 XX

Egypt 91,518 66 6,040 109,500 XX

Finland 32,770 76 2,491 72,500 XX

France 3,169,219 118 373,968 944,700 340,000

Germany 5,819,614 118 686,714 2,619,000 1,150,000

Hungary 190,823 118 22,517 224,800 XX

India 2,019,808 78 157,545 1,079,500 194,000

Indonesia 297,062 78 23,171 288,000 XX

Iran 904,500 66 59,697 168,400 XX

Italy 1,211,594 118 142,968 1,686,100 XX

Japan 11,484,233 110 1,263,266 3,392,600 1,370,000

Malaysia 502,973 78 39,232 193,400 XX

Mexico 2,045,518 143 292,509 724,700 275,000

Netherlands 159,454 118 18,816 146,400 XX

Poland 714,600 118 84,323 227,000 XX

Portugal 227,325 118 26,824 111,500 XX

Republic of Korea 3,840,102 104 399,371 1,153,200 XX

Romania 213,597 118 25,204 246,500 XX

Russia 1,508,358 76 114,635 1,047,000 199,000

Serbia 11,182 76 850 109,500 XX

Slovakia 295,391 118 34,856 25,500 XX

Slovenia 150,320 118 17,738 112,200 XX

South Africa 587,719 66 38,789 264,000 XX

Spain 2,777,435 118 327,737 862,800 XX

Sweden 333,168 118 39,314 138,400 XX

Taiwan 303,221 78 23,651 561,700 XX

Thailand 1,194,426 78 93,165 407,000 XX

Turkey 987,780 66 65,193 433,000 XX

Ukraine 295,260 76 22,440 39,500 XX

United Kingdom 1,648,388 118 194,510 566,500 119,000

United States 11,263,986 143 1,610,750 9,173,000 3,490,000

Uzbekistan 110,000 78 8,580 XX XX

Others 531,606 108 57,413 XX XX

Total 69,222,975 XX 7,803,584 XX XX

The data on the aluminum content of vehicles give an estimate of the amount of material from 

this source that was added to total aluminum in use in 2006. When compared with the IAI global flow 

for 2006, these data indicate that light vehicles accounted for almost 20 percent of the aluminum in 

finished products and the percentage of aluminum in total products in automotive uses was 16 percent 

(Martchek, 2007). An estimate of the amount of aluminum that was used to manufacture the vehicles 
43

can be made by comparing shipments of aluminum to vehicle manufacturers in North America to the 

amount of aluminum contained in light vehicles manufactured in North America (table 9). These data 

indicate that, for every metric ton of aluminum in the vehicle, 1.046 t of aluminum was used to make the 

vehicle.

When the estimated aluminum content in light vehicles is compared with aluminum 

consumption and with estimates of aluminum consumption in the transportation end use (table 8), some 

inconsistencies are apparent. For example, the calculated aluminum content of vehicles for Slovakia 

exceeds the estimated aluminum consumption of the country in 2006. Also, the calculated aluminum 

content of vehicles exceeds the estimated aluminum content of transportation end uses for France and 

Mexico by about 6.5 percent and for the United Kingdom by 64 percent (table 10). Because Mexico is 

not a major manufacturer of aircraft, ships, or rail transportation, the difference may not indicate a major 

estimation problem. The large differences for France and the United Kingdom, however, are more 

serious. France manufactures aircraft in addition to vehicles, which would add to the size of the 

difference between aluminum reported in the end-use statistics versus aluminum calculated by 

estimating aluminum use by different modes of transportation. The estimated percentage of aluminum in 

transportation end uses for France is not unusual compared with the other high-income countries. The 

United Kingdom manufactures aircraft and builds ships in addition to light vehicles. The estimated 

percentage of aluminum consumption in transportation end uses for the United Kingdom (21 percent) is 

the lowest for high-income countries by a significant amount. When compared with the amount of 

aluminum calculated for light vehicles and not estimated for other modes of transportation, the low 

estimate for the transportation end use in the United Kingdom appears to be in error. 

Table 9. Comparison of shipments of aluminum to manufacturers of passenger cars and light trucks with the 

estimated amount of aluminum contained in automobiles and light commercial vehicles in North America.

Aluminum shipments for passenger vehicles and light trucks in North America, in metric tons 2,375,000

Aluminum contained in automobiles and light commercial vehicles manufactured in North America, in metric tons:

Canada 367,838

Mexico 292,509

United States 1,610,750

Total 2,271,100

Estimated scrap generated in manufacture, in metric tons 103,900

Percentage of shipments to scrap 4.4

Factor to estimate scrap from aluminum in vehicles 0.046

Comparison of aluminum used in the manufacture of vehicles with aluminum in transportation 

end uses in countries where vehicles are the main mode of transportation manufactured are in closer 

agreement (table 10). For example, transportation end-use data (about 32,000 t) for Argentina, which 

manufactures vehicles but not aircraft or ships, agree closely with the amount of aluminum that would 

be used in the manufacture of vehicles (about 30,000 t). Light vehicles account for 85 percent of the 

aluminum in transportation end uses in India, which has a small shipbuilding sector. Because the other 

countries with estimated aluminum consumption for transportation end uses have more complex 

transportation manufacturing sectors, analysis of the aluminum used in the manufacture of other modes 

of transportation will be necessary to further test the validity of the end-use data.
44

Table 10. Estimated amount of aluminum used to manufacture forms of transportation other than passenger cars 

and light trucks for selected countries.

[The calculated amount of aluminum shown for transportation end uses other than light vehicles is negative for France, 

Mexico, and the United Kingdom because the calculated aluminum content of light vehicles exceeds the estimated aluminum 

content for all transportation end uses. These differences likely indicate a measurement error or an error in a reported 

number. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits] 

Country

Estimated aluminum 

shipments for vehicles, in 

metric tons

Estimated aluminum for other 

forms of transportation, in 

metric tons

Estimated aluminum in 

transportation, in metric 

tons

Argentina 30,300 1,700 32,000

Brazil 183,000 86,000 269,000

China 722,000 838,000 1,560,000

France 391,000 -51,000 340,000

Germany 718,000 437,000 1,150,000

India 165,000 29,000 194,000

Japan 1,320,000 54,000 1,370,000

Mexico 306,000 -31,000 275,000

Russia 120,000 79,000 199,000

United Kingdom 203,000 -84,000 119,000

United States 1,680,000 1,810,000 3,490,000

The limited end-use data available and the inconsistencies in data classes point to a need for 

consistent end-use classes, for data for additional countries, and for more accurate data on aluminum 

end uses. Historical data for countries that have recently experienced rapid economic growth and 

transformation could improve estimates of future aluminum flows.

3.1.3.2.2. Consumption for Transportation—Aircraft

A second use of aluminum is in aircraft. IAI (2010) estimated that 80 percent of an aircraft’s 

weight is aluminum. Table 11 presents estimates of the aluminum content of aircraft delivered in 2006 

by Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, and Embraer, respectively. Airbus has manufacturing and assembly 

facilities in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. Thus, it is difficult to assign the almost 

19,000 t of aluminum in the aircraft delivered in 2006 to individual countries for comparison with 

country-level consumption data. 
45

Table 11. Estimated aluminum content of Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, and Embraer aircraft delivered in 2006.

[XX, not applicable. Data are from Airbus S.A.S. (2007); Aviation Today (2007); Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. 

(2007); Airliners.net (2010); The Boeing Company (2010). Totals may not add owing to independent rounding] 

Aircraft model Number delivered Weight of one 

aircraft, in kilograms

Aluminum content, 

in metric tons

Airbus

Single aisle 339 42,000 11,400

Wide body 86 99,000 6,810

Freighters 9 93,000 670 

Total 434 XX 18,900

Average aluminum content per aircraft 43

Boeing

717-200 5 31,892 128

737-600 10 37,104 297

737-700BBJ 10 42,895 343

737-700 108 38,147 3,300

737-800BBJ2 2 45,730 73

737-800 172 41,145 5,670

747-400 14 180,985 2,030

767-200 2 74,752 120

767-300 10 80,467 644

777-200 25 139,025 2,780

777-300 40 160,120 5,120

Total 398 XX 20,500

Average aluminum content per aircraft 51

Bombardier

Regional airline aircraft:

CRJ700/CRJ900 63 19,595 988

CRJ100/200 and CL601/604 49 11,500 451

Total 112 XX 1,440

Business aircraft:

Challenger 300 55 10,140 446

Global jets 63 22,135 1,120

Lear 55/60 94 6,282 472

Total 212 XX 2,030

Average aluminum content per aircraft 11

Embraer

Commercial aviation:

ERJ 145 12 11,800 113

EMBRAER 170 35 20,150 564

EMBRAER 175 12 20,150 193

EMBRAER 190 40 27,100 867

EMBRAER 195 3 27,100 65

Total 98 XX 1,800

Executive aviation:

Legacy 600 26 16,000 333

Legacy shuttle 1 16,000 13

Total 27 XX 346

Defense and government:

EMBRAER 170 4 20,150 64

EMBRAER 190 1 27,100 22

Total 5 XX 86

Average aluminum content per aircraft 17

Boeing’s principal manufacturing and assembly facilities are located in the United States. The 

majority of Bombardier’s facilities are located in Canada, but some are in the United States. The 

principal manufacturing facilities of Embraer are located in Brazil. Boeing delivered aircraft containing 

about 20,500 t of aluminum. Bombardier’s aircraft contained almost 3,500 t of aluminum; the 
46

proportion of aircraft built in the United States is unstated. Embraer delivered aircraft containing 2,200 t 

of aluminum in 2006. 

It is not clear how much aluminum was used to build the aircraft as no data on shipments to 

aircraft manufacturers were available for the study. Data from Boeing (undated), however, indicate that 

the company offered 18,700 t of aluminum scrap for sale in 2006. If the Boeing’s ratio of scrap plus 

aluminum in product to aluminum in product (approximately 2) is typical of other aircraft 

manufacturers, it suggests that 2 t of aluminum must be purchased for every ton of aluminum in the 

final product. Thus, vehicles and aircraft account for only 1.8 Mt of the 3.5 Mt of aluminum used for 

transportation end uses in the United States. In Brazil, about 4,400 t of aluminum was used to 

manufacture aircraft. Together, vehicles and aircraft account for 187,000 t of the 269,000 t of aluminum 

used in transportation end uses in Brazil. 

3.1.3.2.3 . Consumption for Transportation—Railcars

Based on data from FreightCar America, Inc. (2007), we estimate that about 410,000 t of 

aluminum was contained in railcars manufactured in the United States in 2006. Again, the amount of 

aluminum required to manufacture the rail cars is unknown, but if the ratio is similar to that calculated 

for aircraft, the amount of aluminum accounted for by light vehicles, civilian aircraft, and railcars in the 

United States would be about 2.5 Mt of the 3.5 Mt calculated from the transportation end use. 

3.1.3.2.4. Consumption for Transportation—Final Thoughts

The data on the aluminum content of manufactured products seems to be reasonably accurate. 

For some of the products considered above, however, part of the aluminum could be aluminum alloy 

containing up to 10 percent alloying metals, such as copper and zinc. The amount of alloy used is 

unknown, and therefore no adjustment has been made to the calculated aluminum contents of products. 

If the aluminum contents are accurate, scrap ratios calculated for vehicles and aircraft could be 

conservative. Shipment data would be useful in resolving these issues. 

Finally, data on the in-service times for the transportation systems would be useful for 

estimating the volumes of post-consumer scrap that are likely generated. Vehicles appear to have 

in-service times of 10 to 15 years. Based upon data from Jet Information Services (undated), aircraft 

appear to have in-service times of about 25 years. Jet Information Services (undated) also contains 

information on the number of aircraft removed from active inventory from 1965 to 2000 for aircraft 

manufactured by Western firms. In 2000, about 225 aircraft were removed from active inventory. Not 

all aircraft removed from active inventory are scrapped, but it appears that most are. If 75 percent of the 

aircraft were scrapped, then aluminum from about 170 aircraft was added to post-consumer scrap. Using 

the per aircraft aluminum content for Airbus and Boeing, which are the two largest Western aircraft 

manufacturers, this would generate between 7,300 and 8,700 t of post-consumer aluminum scrap. 

3.2. Future Global Mass Flows of Aluminum

This section of the report examines future mass flows of aluminum for the short to medium term 

(to 2015) and for the longer term (2015 to 2025). 

3.2.1. Short- to Medium-Term Production Forecasts

For the short to medium term (from the present to 5 years hence), outlooks have been developed 

based upon projected trends that could affect existing production facilities, planned expansions of 

existing facilities, and planned new facilities that operating companies, consortia, or Governments have 
47

projected to come online within indicated timeframes. The outlooks are not forecasts of what production 

will be but rather what the industry is likely to be able to produce given announced industry intentions. 

3.2.1.1. Bauxite

The outlooks for the production of bauxite in Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Asia, and 

Europe and Eurasia presented in table 12 are based on those in the summary chapters of MYB 2007 

(Fong-Sam and others, 2009; Anderson and others, 2010; Levine and others, 2010; Mobbs and others, 

2010; Yager and others, 2010). The summary chapters contain outlooks for individual 

bauxite-producing countries. African production is forecast to increase to 24 Mt in 2015 from 20 Mt in 

2006; production from the Middle East is forecast to increase by almost 29 percent per year to 4.9 Mt in 

2015 from 0.5 Mt in 2006. Aluminum production in the Americas is expected to reach 60 Mt in 2015, 

which is up from 50 Mt in 2006. Asia is expected to produce 160 Mt of bauxite, which represents an 

increase of almost 5 percent per year from 104 Mt. Bauxite production in Europe and Eurasia is 

expected to increase to 18 Mt in 2015 from 8.7 Mt in 2006. In total, global bauxite production is 

expected to increase by 4.4 percent per year to 270 Mt in 2015 from 183 Mt in 2006. 

Table 12. Short- to medium-term (1- to 5-year) outlook for bauxite production.

[Data are in thousand metric tons. Totals may not add owing to independent rounding. Data are from USGS Minerals 

Yearbook 2007, v. III]

Region 2011 2013 2015

Africa 18,000 21,000 24,000

Americas 59,000 58,000 60,000

Asia and the Pacific 140,000 150,000 160,000

Europe and Eurasia 16,000 17,000 18,000

Middle East 1,600 4,900 4,900

World total 235,000 250,000 270,000

3.2.1.2. Aluminum

The outlooks for the production of aluminum in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe and 

Eurasia presented in table 13 are taken directly from four summary chapters of MYB 2007 (Fong-Sam 

and others, 2009; Levine and others, 2010; Mobbs and others, 2010; Yager and others, 2010); the 

outlooks for the Americas are based upon those presented in Anderson and others (2010) but have been 

modified to include data for the United States. If economic conditions warrant, there is expected to be 

sufficient industry capacity to produce 55 Mt of aluminum worldwide in 2011, 60 Mt in 2013, and 

61 Mt in 2015. This represents an average rate of increase of 2.6 percent per year. The regions with the 

largest projected rates of increase are Africa (8.4 percent) and the Middle East (2.8 percent). The 

increase in Africa is expected to take place mainly in South Africa. The increase will be contingent upon 

the availability of sufficient power; South Africa has experienced power shortages in recent years. The 

increases in the Middle East are projected to spread across more countries, with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and 

the United Arab Emirates all slated for increases in aluminum production capacity. Bauxite production 

is expected to increase by almost 3 percent from 2011 to 2015 with production increases slated for 

Australia, Brazil, China, Guinea, India, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, and Vietnam. 
48

Table 13. Short- to medium-term (1- to 5-year) outlook for aluminum production.

[Data are in thousand metric tons. Totals may not add owing to independent rounding. Data are from USGS Minerals 

Yearbook 2007, v. III]

Region 2011 2013 2015

Africa 2,100 2,800 2,900

Americas 16,500 18,500 18,000

Asia 24,200 26,000 27,000

Europe and Eurasia 12,000 13,000 13,000

Middle East 4,270 5,395 5,395

World total 55,000 60,000 61,000

3.2.2. Long-Term Production Forecasts

Long-term forecasts of aluminum are made using a logistic regression model that relates 

aluminum consumption per capita to the average income in the country as measured by GDP per capita. 

The model estimates future consumption; assuming that the market for aluminum is in balance or nearly 

so, the production of aluminum can be inferred. Studies by DeYoung and Menzie (1999) and Menzie, 

DeYoung, and Steblez (2001) investigated the relationship of industrial consumption of metals, such as 

aluminum and copper, and noted that consumption was low when the average income was low but grew 

rapidly with increasing income until a threshold level of per capita consumption was reached. Menzie, 

Singer, and DeYoung (2005) and Singer and Menzie (2009) used a logistic regression, which captures 

the relationship between GDP per capita and metal consumption that was noted by DeYoung and 

Menzie (1999) and Menzie, DeYoung, and Steblez (2001), to estimate the per capita consumption of 

copper as a function of GDP per capita. They used projected economic growth rates and projected rates 

of population growth to estimate future GDP per capita. 

3.2.2.1. The Model for Forecasting Long-Term Aluminum Consumption

Initial models of GDP per capita and aluminum consumption per capita were fit for the 40 most 

populous countries in the world (table 14). Figure 21 is a plot of those data. The initial model was not 

very satisfactory because France and the United Kingdom consume aluminum per capita at lower rates 

than is typical for other high-income countries. France and especially the United Kingdom have had 

falling rates of industrial consumption of metals in recent years as economic integration has increased 

among EU member states and as manufacturing has moved to other EU countries. Consumption in Italy 

and Spain has increased as it has declined in France and the United Kingdom. Therefore, the six large 

countries that were members of the EU were combined into one entity (EU6) for the purpose of fitting a 

logistic model to GDP per capita and aluminum consumption. 
49

Table 14. Gross domestic product (GDP), population, aluminum consumption, per capita GDP, and aluminum 

consumption per capita for the 40 most populous countries in 2006.

Country Population, 

in millions

GDP,

in million 

dollars

Aluminum 

consumption, 

in million 

metric tons

GDP per 

capita,

in dollars

Aluminum consumption 

per capita,

in million metric tons

China 1,300 $2,630 8,650 $6,300 6.63 

India 1,110 887 1,080 3,400 0.98 

United States 298 13,200 9,170 42,000 30.70 

Indonesia 232 364 288 3,700 1.24 

Brazil 192 1,070 1,040 8,400 5.45 

Pakistan 166 129 34 2,400 0.21 

Bangladesh 150 65 24 2,100 0.16 

Russia 142 979 1,050 10,700 7.37 

Nigeria 140 115 11 1,000 0.08 

Japan 128 4,370 3,390 30,700 26.60 

Mexico 107 840 725 10,100 6.75 

Philippines 95 117 26 5,100 0.28 

Vietnam 85 61 88 3,000 1.03 

Germany 82 2,900 2,620 29,800 31.80 

Ethiopia 77 74 0 800 0.00 

Egypt 74 107 110 4,400 1.48 

Turkey 74 392 433 7,900 5.88 

Iran 65 212 168 8,100 2.59 

Thailand 65 206 407 8,300 6.29 

France 63 2,230 945 30,000 14.90 

Congo (Kinshasa) 62 19 0 800 0.00 

United Kingdom 61 2,370 567 30,900 9.35 

Italy 58 1,850 1,690 28,400 29.00 

Republic of Korea 49 888 1,150 20,400 23.50 

South Africa 48 257 264 12,100 5.51 

Burma 47 13 0 1,600 0.00 

Ukraine 47 106 39 6,800 0.84 

Colombia 42 136 77 7,100 1.83 

Spain 40 1,230 863 25,200 21.40 

Argentina 40 213 146 13,700 3.68 

Sudan 39 36 1 2,100 0.02 

Tanzania 39 14 0 700 0.00 

Poland 39 342 227 12,700 5.88 

Kenya 36 23 13 1,200 0.36 

Algeria 33 115 6 7,200 0.18 

Canada 33 1,280 1,030 32,900 31.50 

Morocco 30 65 12 4,300 0.40 

Uganda 29 10 0 1,700 0.01 

Peru 28 93 2 6,100 0.07 

Nepal 28 9 0 1,500 0.00 
50

Figure 21. Graph showing aluminum consumption per capita against purchasing power parity gross domestic 

product per capita in 2006.

Figure 22 shows a plot of the EU6 and the other 34 populous countries’ aluminum consumption 

per capita versus GDP per capita and the logistic equation and curve fit to the data. All the parameters of 

the equation are significantly different from zero at a 5 percent confidence level and the curve provides 

a reasonable approximation of the data, albeit with significant error. The error indicates that items 

beyond income affect aluminum consumption per capita. The model of consumption is essentially 

projective based upon assumed rates of economic growth. Nevertheless, the model is likely to give a 

reasonable status quo projection of aluminum consumption into the future. 
51

Figure 22. Graph showing aluminum consumption per capita against purchasing power parity gross domestic 

product per capita in 2006 [includes the six largest member states of the European Union (EU6)]. For the logistic 

regression, aluminum consumption per capita was calculated from the following equation:

− − + ( 0.00021*( 17,000))

29.41 , 1 x e

where x is the gross domestic product per capita.

3.2.3. Forecasts

Table 15 presents forecasts for 2015, 2020, and 2025 for the population, GDP per capita, 

aluminum consumption per capita, and aluminum consumption for the 20 most populous countries in 

2006. Growth rates are based on the average of the past 10 years. The table also uses the ratio of the 

aluminum consumption in the 20 most populous countries to global aluminum production to estimate 

world aluminum consumption. If it is assumed that aluminum production is equal to aluminum 

consumption, then the estimates can be used to examine a number of implications of the model. 
52

Table 15. Estimated population, purchasing power parity gross domestic product per capita, aluminum consumption per capita, and aluminum consumption 

for 2015, 2020, and 2025.

[GDPpp/c, purchasing power parity gross domestic product per capita; Al/c, aluminum consumption per capita; XX, not applicable]

Country

2015 2020 2025

Population, 

in millions

GDPpp/c, 

in dollars

Al/c, in 

kilograms

Aluminum 

consumption, 

in thousand 

metric tons

Population, 

in millions

GDPpp/c, 

in dollars

Al/c, in 

kilograms

Aluminum 

consumption, 

in thousand 

metric tons

Population, 

in millions

GDPpp/c, 

in dollars

Al/c, in 

kilograms

Aluminum 

consumption, 

in thousand 

metric tons

China 1,400 13,900 8.86 12,400 1,430 21,800 20.90 29,900 1,450 34,600 28.70 41,700 

India 1,290 5,350 1.82 2,360 1,370 7,100 2.60 3,560 1,430 9,520 4.17 5,970 

United States 332 49,300 29.40 9,750 346 54,800 29.40 10,200 359 61,200 29.40 10,600 

Indonesia 244 5,000 1.70 414 254 5,850 2.02 513 263 6,870 2.48 654 

Brazil 203 10,300 4.86 986 209 11,600 6.14 1,280 214 13,200 7.94 1,700 

Pakistan 206 3,000 1.12 230 226 3,490 1.24 280 246 4,100 1.40 345 

Bangladesh 175 2,790 1.07 187 186 3,350 1.20 223 195 4,080 1.40 273 

Russia 138 18,600 16.20 2,230 135 25,500 24.90 3,360 132 34,900 28.70 3,790 

Nigeria 176 1,470 0.80 142 193 1,880 0.88 169 210 2,420 0.98 207 

Japan 126 37,100 29.00 3,650 124 41,700 29.30 3,630 121 47,100 29.40 3,550 

Mexico 116 12,200 6.75 784 120 13,700 8.58 1,030 123 15,500 11.20 1,370 

Philippines 102 6,570 2.34 238 110 7,410 2.77 305 117 8,480 3.42 400 

Vietnam 94 5,030 1.71 160 98 6,740 2.42 237 102 9,080 3.84 392 

Germany 81 36,100 28.90 2,350 80 40,300 29.20 2,350 79 45,100 29.30 2,330 

Ethiopia 96 1,090 0.74 71 108 1,300 0.78 84 120 1,560 0.82 98 

Egypt 92 5,510 1.88 173 99 6,550 2.33 230 105 7,850 3.02 317 

Turkey 80 12,300 6.86 549 84 15,700 11.50 965 87 20,200 18.60 1,620 

Iran 80 10,300 4.80 382 84 12,500 7.05 590 87 15,300 10.90 947 

Thailand 70 11,900 6.44 450 71 14,900 10.30 735 73 18,700 16.30 1,180 

France 64 35,500 28.80 1,840 65 38,600 29.10 1,890 66 42,000 29.30 1,930 

Total for selected 

countries

39,300 61,500 79,300

World total 58,700 91,900 119,000
53

The model is quite simple and does not provide associated confidence limits or address possible 

affects of important variables, such as price and substitution. Errors associated with the long term are 

necessarily large as errors are typically multiplicative, enlarging upon previous errors. Prices are a 

nonlinear function of the balance between the supply and demand for a commodity. Because mine and 

plant capacities at the various steps in the aluminum production process are capital intensive and benefit 

from economies of scale, mine and plant capacities are typically added, or enlarged, in large increments 

that require time to build. As a result, supply is relatively inelastic with regards to increases in demand 

beyond the point of installed capacity. Therefore, forecasting prices is very difficult even for the near 

term. Evaluation of substitution requires comparison of price and performance measures for competing 

materials, such as composite materials. An evaluation of such materials is beyond the scope of this 

study.

World aluminum consumption, which was 45.3 Mt in 2006, is estimated to be 59 Mt in 2015, 

92 Mt in 2020, and 120 Mt in 2025. Most of the increases are estimated to occur in low- and 

middle-income countries. Notably, the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), which 

accounted for 26 percent of world consumption in 2006, are expected to account for 31 percent of world 

consumption in 2015, 42 percent of world consumption in 2020, and 45 percent of world consumption 

in 2025. Consumption by the United States, Japan, Germany and France, which was 16.1 Mt in 2006 

(36 percent of world consumption), is estimated to be 18 Mt in 2025 (15 percent of world consumption). 
54

4. Conclusions

A number of important conclusions can be reached based upon this study. The conclusions are 

organized by the section of the report on which they are based to allow easy access to information 

related to the formation of the conclusions. 

4.1. Methods of Present Study (2.3)

A focus on changes in mineral consumption as countries experience economic growth and a rise 

in income (GDP per capita) can yield important insights into dynamic material flows.

4.2. Macro-Level Flows (3.1.1)

Macro-level flows estimated by this study for bauxite production, alumina production, and 

primary aluminum production are similar to those calculated by the IAI for 2006.

Secondary aluminum production estimated by this study was significantly lower than that 

estimated by the IAI for 2006. In addition, the ratio of post-consumer to total scrap estimated by the 

USGS (Papp, 2009) for the United States differs significantly from the IAI estimate of that ratio for the 

world. 

4.3. Micro-Level Flows (3.1.2)

The European model of alumina refineries and aluminum smelters presented in this section of 

the report demonstrates that the application of existing technologies could reduce byproduct wastes 

produced as a result of aluminum production. 

Ongoing research is identifying uses for some wastes such as “red mud.” These uses could 

significantly reduce some wastes from aluminum production. 

Reduction of GHGs from aluminum production is under the control of two groups. PFCs and 

CO2 generated from fuel use and reduction processes are under the control of the producer of the 

aluminum. GHGs generated to produce the electricity used by aluminum producers are under the control 

of the owners of the electrical grid.

4.4. Consumption (3.1.3)

In high-income countries, such as Germany, Japan, and the United States, aluminum 

consumption per capita is either growing very slowly or is not growing. In a few countries in the 

European Union, such as France and the United Kingdom, economic integration and relocation of 

industries have led to a decrease in aluminum consumption. 

Aluminum consumption per capita increases rapidly to about 20 kilograms per person from 

2 kilograms per person as per capita income increases to $20,000 from $5,000. 

The end uses to which aluminum is put appear to differ significantly between high-income 

countries and low- and middle-income countries. In low- and middle-income countries, the main uses of 

aluminum are in electrical systems and construction. In high-income countries, the leading use of 

aluminum is in transportation. Inconsistent end-use classifications, however, limit the quantification of 

these differences.

Because of the long in-service times of electrical systems and buildings and other construction, 

recycling of significant amounts of post-consumer scrap is unlikely to begin in the countries that are 

currently experiencing rapid economic growth until 2020 to 2025. 
55

Recycling rates of used beverage cans can be high in low- and middle-income countries owing 

to the availability of low wages for labor; however, the amount of material going into packaging is 

relatively small in these countries.

As shown for light vehicles, production data for goods can be combined with intensity of use 

data to estimate material in use. When these data are combined with estimates of aluminum shipments 

and the in-service life of the good, it is possible to estimate the contribution of that type of good to new 

and post-consumer scrap. For example, the manufacture of light vehicles generates relatively small 

volumes of new aluminum scrap from fabricators and manufacturers. In contrast, commercial aircraft 

manufacturing generates almost 1 t of new scrap for each ton of material in an aircraft.

4.5. Future Global Mass Flows of Aluminum (3.2)

4.5.1. Short- to Medium-Term Forecasts (3.2.1)

Based upon announced production plans, the capacity of bauxite mines is expected to increase to 

270 Mt by 2015 from 183 Mt in 2006. This represents an almost 48 percent increase over 2006. Major 

increases in mine capacity are expected in Australia, China, Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and 

Guinea, in order of the size of the capacity increase.

Future aluminum production capacity based upon announced production plans is expected to 

reach 61 Mt in 2015 from 45.3 Mt in 2006. This represents an increase of almost 3.4 percent per year. 

The largest increases are expected to take place in China, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, 

India, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, in order of the size of the capacity increase.

4.5.2. Long-Term Forecasts (3.2.2)

Based on a model relating consumption to income, aluminum consumption by 2025 is likely to 

be 120 Mt compared with 45.3 Mt in 2006. This represents a growth rate of 4.1 percent per year. Most 

of the increased consumption will take place in countries that consumed only modest amounts of 

aluminum in 2006. China, which consumed about 6.6 kg per capita in 2006, is expected to consume 

28.7 kg per capita in 2025. Russia, which consumed 7.4 kg per capita in 2006, is expected to consume 

28.7 kg per capita in 2025, and Brazil, which consumed 5.5 kg per capita in 2006, is expected to 

consume 7.9 kg per capita in 2025. Brazil’s consumption is based on a relatively modest projection that 

its rate of economic growth will be only 3 percent per year; recent data indicate that Brazil’s future rate 

of growth could be greater than 3 percent. India, which consumed 1.8 kg per capita in 2006, is expected 

to consume 4.2 kg per capita in 2025. Consumption in high-income countries is not expected to rise 

significantly on a per capita basis, but total consumption may increase modestly owing to population 

increases.

4.5.3. Implications of the Forecasts (3.2.3)

To meet a consumption of 120 Mt of aluminum, the world will need to produce about 570 Mt of 

bauxite and about 230 Mt of alumina. This production will generate significant levels of wastes even if 

technological improvements are made to current production processes. 

A key question related to this increased consumption will be what portion of the consumption is 

satisfied by primary aluminum and what portion is from secondary aluminum, as this will have a 

considerable influence on the amount of GHGs generated by aluminum production. That portion of 

secondary aluminum that comes from new scrap is likely to increase proportionately with overall 

consumption. The data on changing patterns of end use with increased income suggest, however, that at 
56

least initially, the proportion of aluminum that is generated from old scrap may decrease as countries 

undergoing economic growth initially use aluminum mainly to add to infrastructure that has long terms 

of in-service use. Later, as these countries continue to experience economic growth, they are likely to 

increase the amount of aluminum they consume in transportation end uses. As this takes place, recycling 

of post-consumer scrap will rise but the timing of the increase will be governed by the mix of 

transportation and the in-service terms of individual modes of transportation. China and India are 

increasing their use of vehicles at a very rapid rate; if the in-service terms of the vehicles are 10 to 

12 years, then post-consumer scrap from this increase is not likely to appear until sometime between 

2020 and 2025. Rates of recycling of used beverage cans are typically high in low- to middle-income 

countries; however, the amount of material recovered is likely to remain modest as the volume of such 

material will remain at low levels for most of the period of the forecast.

If the proportion of aluminum production that comes from primary smelters increases, at least 

until 2025, a reduction in GHGs must come from increases in the efficiency of aluminum smelters or in 

reduced use of fossil fuels for generation of the electricity used in aluminum production. The magnitude 

of the increases in aluminum consumption suggests that both gains in efficiency and switching of fuel 

sources will need to be substantial just to maintain emissions at the current level.
57

5. References Cited

Airbus S.A.S., 2007, Airbus 2006 results: Airbus S.A.S. press release, January 17, accessed 

June 15, 2010, at http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release/

?tx_ttnews%5Bswords%5D=2006%20results&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=440&tx_ttnews%5Bback

Pid%5D=1765&cHash=3abca17aca. 

Airliners.net, 2010, Aircraft technical data and specifications: Airliners.net, accessed June 15, 2010, at 

http://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/. 

Alcoa Inc., 2009, Alcoa unloads first bauxite shipment from Juruti in Alumar refinery, in São Luís–MA: 

Alcoa Inc. press release, October 9, accessed March 10, 2009, at 

http://www.alcoa.com/brazil/en/news/releases/2009_10_09.asp?initSection=1000. 

Anderson, S.T., Bermúdez-Lugo, Omayra, Gurmendi, A.C., Perez, A.A., Wacaster, Susan, Wallace, 

G.J., and Wilburn, D.R, 2010, The mineral industries of Latin America and Canada, in Area reports—

International—Latin America and Canada: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2007, v. III, 

p. 1.1–1.34, accessed June 15, 2010, at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2007/ 

myb3-sum-2007-latin-canada.pdf. 

Aslam, M., Khalil, K., Rasmussen, R.A., Culbertson, J.A., Prins, J.M., Grimsrud, E.P., and Shearer, 

M.J., 2003, Atmospheric perfluorocarbons: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 37, no. 19, 

October, p. 4358–61. (Also available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es030327a.) 

Associação Brasileira do Alumínio, [undated], Domestic consumption of aluminum products by end 

use—2008: Associação Brasileira do Alumínio, accessed October 15, 2010, at 

http://www.abal.org.br/english/industria/estatisticas_consdomsetor.asp. 

Aviation Today, 2007, Bombardier deliveries down, t-props up: Aviation Today, February 27, accessed 

June 15, 2010, at http://www.aviationtoday.com/ran/topstories/ 

Bombardier-Deliveries-Down-T-Props-Up_8971.html. 

BCS, Inc., 2007, U.S. energy requirements for aluminum production—Historical perspective, 

theoretical limits and current practices: U.S. Department of Energy, February, accessed 

April 23, 2010, at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/aluminum/pdfs/al_theoretical.pdf. 

Beck, T.R., 2008, Electrolytic production of aluminum, in Nagy, Zoltan, ed., Electrochemistry 

encyclopedia: Cleveland, Ohio, Ernest B. Yeager Center for Electrochemical Sciences (YCES) and 

the Chemical Engineering Department, Case Western Reserve University, available at 

http://electrochem.cwru.edu/encycl/art-a01-al-prod.htm. 

Boin, U.M.J., and Bertram, M., 2005, Melting standardized aluminum scrap—A mass balance model 

for Europe: Journal of Metals, v. 57, no. 8, August, p. 26–33. 

Boltramovich, Sergey, Dudarev, Grigory, and Gorelov, Vladimir, 2003, The melting iron curtain—A 

competitive analysis of the Northwest Russian metal cluster: Helsinki, Finland, The Research Institute 

of the Finnish Economy, Taloustieto Oy, 138 p. 

Bray, E.L., 2010a, Aluminum, in Metals and minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 

2008, v. I, p. 5.1–5.19, accessed October 14, 2010, at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/ 

commodity/aluminum/myb1-2008-alumi.pdf. 

Bray, E.L., 2010b, Bauxite and alumina, in Metals and minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals 

Yearbook 2008, v. I, p. 10.1–10.11, accessed October 14, 2010, at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/ 

pubs/commodity/bauxite/myb1-2008-bauxi.pdf. 

Carbon Emitters, 2009, Do nickel producers emit a lot of carbon?: Carbon Emitters, written blog 

commun., November 26, accessed February 22, 2010, at http://www.carbonemitters.org/. 
58

Chen, Weiqiang, Shi, Lei, Qian, Li, 2009, Substance flow analysis of aluminium in mainland China for 

2001, 2004, and 2007—Exploring its initial sources, eventual sinks and the pathways linking them: 

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, v. 64, issue 9, July, p. 557–570. 

CiDRA Minerals Processing, Inc., 2010, CiDRA minerals processing—Alumina refining process 

solutions: Wallingford, Conn., CiDRA Minerals Processing, Inc. brochure, 4 p., accessed 

February 2, 2010, at http://www.cidra.com/document_library/BI0349_Alumina_Brochure.pdf. 

DeYoung, J.H., Jr., and Menzie, W.D., 1999, The changing uses of mineral information—A 

government perspective, in Otto, James, and Hyo-Sun, Kim, eds., Proceedings of the workshop on the 

sustainable development of non-renewable resources toward the 21st century, New York, N.Y., 

October 15–16, 1998: New York, United Nations Development Programme, p. 111–127. 

Ducker Worldwide, LLC, 2008, 2009 update on North American light vehicle aluminum content 

compared to the other countries and regions of the world—Phase II: Troy, Mich., Ducker Worldwide, 

LLC presentation, 96 slides, accessed at http://aluminumintransportation.org/downloads/ 

Ducker%20International%20Final%20Report%202009%20-%20II.pdf. 

Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A., 2007, Embraer reports fourth-quarter 2006 deliveries and total 

company backlog; São José dos Campos, Brazil, Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A. press 

release, January 15, 7 p. (Also available at http://www.embraer.com.br/institucional/download/ 

2_002-Ins-VPF-Deliveries_4Q2006-I-06.pdf.)

European Aluminium Association, 2008, Environmental profile report for the European aluminium 

industry: European Aluminium Association, April, 12 p., accessed February 4, 2010, at 

http://www.eaa.net/upl/4/en/doc/EAA_Environmental_profile_report_May08.pdf. 

Fong-Sam, Yolanda, Kuo, C.S., Shi, Lin, Tse, Pui-Kwan, Wacaster, Susan, Wilburn, D.R., and Wu, 

J.C., 2009, The mineral industries of Asia and the Pacific, in Area reports—International—Asia and 

the Pacific: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2007, v. III, p. 1.1–1.34. (Also available at 

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2007/myb3-sum-2007-asia-pacific.pdf.) 

Fraser, P., Trudinger, C., Dunse, B., Krummel, P, and Steele, P., 2009, PFC emissions from Australian 

& global aluminum production: 2009 ESRL Global Monitoring Annual Conference, Boulder, 

Colorado, May 13-14, 2009, Presentation, 27 p., accessed February 4, 2010, at 

http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/publications/annmeet2009/presentations/4-Fraser.pdf. 

Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovations Research, 2009, Methodology for the free allocation 

of emission allowances in the EU ETS post 2012—Sector report for the aluminum industry: Study 

Contract: 07.0307/2008/515770/ETU/C2, Ecofys project no. PECSNL082164, 21 p., accessed 

May 7, 2010, at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/emission/pdf/bm/BM study - Aluminium.pdf. 

FreightCar America, Inc., [undated], Coal and coke cars: FreightCar America, Inc., accessed 

February 2, 2010, at http://www.freightcaramerica.com/Coke-Coal-Railcars.htm. 

FreightCar America, Inc., 2007, Annual report for 2006: Chicago, Ill., FreightCar America, Inc., 69 p. 

Grishayev, S.I., and Petrov, I.M., 2008, The ratio of primary and secondary raw material in non-ferrous 

metal production in Russia: Mineral Resources of Russia, v. 5, p. 17–23. 

Hatayama, Hiroki, Yamada, Hiroyuki, Daigo, Ichiro, Matsuno, Yasunari, Adachi, Yoshihiro, 2007, 

Dynamic substance flow analysis of aluminum and its alloying elements: Materials Transactions, 

v. 48, no. 9, p. 2518–2524. 

Indian Bureau of Mines, 2008, Indian Minerals Yearbook 2007: Nagpur, India, Indian Bureau of Mines, 

1,038 p. 

International Aluminium Institute, 2003, The aluminum sector greenhouse gas protocol—Greenhouse 

gas emissions monitoring and reporting by the aluminum industry: International Aluminium Institute, 

October, 65 p., accessed February 2, 2010, at http://www.world-aluminium.org/cache/fl0000127.pdf. 
59

International Aluminium Institute, 2007, Life cycle assessment of aluminum—Inventory data for the 

primary aluminum industry, year 2005 update: London, United Kingdom, International Aluminium 

Institute, 42 p. 

International Aluminium Institute, 2009a, Aluminium for future generations—2009 update: 

International Aluminium Institute, 7 p., accessed February 2, 2010, at 

http://www.world-aluminium.org/cache/fl0000303.pdf. 

International Aluminium Institute, 2009b, Fourth sustainable bauxite mining report—IV2008: 

International Aluminium Institute, 16 p., accessed February 25, 2010, at 

http://www.world-aluminium.org/cache/fl0000292.pdf. 

International Aluminium Institute, 2009c, Results of the 2008 anode effect survey—Report on the 

aluminum industry’s global perfluorocarbon gases emissions reduction programme: International 

Aluminium Institute, August 24, 44 p., accessed February 4, 2010, at 

http://www.world-aluminium.org/cache/fl0000300.pdf. 

International Aluminium Institute, 2010, About aluminum—Applications and products—

Transportation—Aerospace: International Aluminium Institute, accessed February 4, 2010, at 

http://www.world-aluminium.org/About+Aluminium/Applications+and+Products/ 

Transportation/Aerospace/. 

International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, 2007, 2006 production statistics: 

International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, accessed October 15, 2010, at 

http://www.oica.net/category/production-statistics/2006-statistics/. 

Jet Information Services, Inc., [undated], World jet inventory—Aviation statistics: Jet Information 

Services, Inc., accessed June 15, 2010, via http://www.jetinventory.com/. 

Levine, R.M., Brininstool, Mark, Anderson, S.T., Newman, H.R., Perez, A.A., Wallace, G.J., and 

Wilburn, D.R., 2010, The mineral industries of Europe and Central Eurasia, in Area reports—

International—Europe and Central Eurasia: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2007, v. III, 

p. 1.1–1.49, accessed June 15, 2010, at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2007/ 

myb3-sum-2007-europe-eurasia.pdf. 

Martchek, Kenneth, 2006, Modelling more sustainable aluminium: International Journal of Life Cycle 

Assessment, v. 11, no. 1, p. 34–37. (Also available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1065/lca2006.01.231.) 

Martchek, Kenneth, [2007], Aluminum mass flow modeling and emissions projections: International 

Aluminium Institute presentation, 17 slides. (Also available at https://www.iea.org/work/2007/ 

aluminium/martchek.pdf.) 

Menzie, W.D., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., and Steblez, W.G., 2001, Some implications of changing patterns of 

mineral consumption: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03–382, accessed June 15, 2010, at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-382/of03-382.html. 

Menzie, W.D., Singer, D.A., and DeYoung, J.H., Jr., 2005, Mineral resources and consumption in the 

21st century, chap. 2 of Simpson, R.D., Toman, M.A., and Ayres, R.U., eds., Scarcity and growth 

revisited—Natural resources and the environment in the new millennium: Washington, D.C., 

Resources for the Future, p. 33–53. 

Metals Advisor, 2010, Aluminum competitive issues—Environmental issues: Metals Advisor, accessed 

May 7, 2010, at http://www.energysolutionscenter.org/heattreat/metalsadvisor/aluminum/ 

industry_overview/competitive_issues/environmental_issues.htm. 

Mobbs, P.M., Wallace, G.J., Wilburn, D.R., Taib, Mowafa, and Yager, T.R., 2010, The mineral 

industries of the Middle East, in Area reports—International—Africa and the Middle East: 

U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2007, v. III, p. 42.1–42.12 (Also available at 

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2007/myb3-sum-2007-middle-east.pdf.) 
60

Nagy, Zoltan, ed., 2010, Electrochemistry enclyclopedia: Ernest B. Yeager Center for Electrochemical 

Sciences and the Chemical Engineering Department, Case Western Reserve University, accessed 

October 15, 2010, at http://electrochem.cwru.edu/encycl/. 

Papp, J.F., 2009, Recycling—Metals, in Metals and minerals: U.S. Geological Survey 2007, v. I, 

p. 61.1–61.6. (Also available at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/recycle/ 

myb1-2007-recyc.pdf .) 

Plunkert, P.A., 2006, Aluminum recycling in the United States in 2000: U.S. Geological Survey 

Circular 1196-W, 11 p., accessed February 2, 2010, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1196w/. (Supersedes 

USGS Open-File Report 2005–1051.) 

Pontikes, Y., 2005a, Red mud—Production: Red Mud Project, July 13, accessed March 8, 2010, at 

http://www.redmud.org/Production.html. 

Pontikes, Y., 2005b, Red mud—Characteristic: Red Mud Project, May 2, accessed March 8, 2010, at 

http://www.redmud.org/Characteristics.html. 

Pontikes, Y., 2005c, Red mud—Disposal: Red Mud Project, April 22, accessed March 8, 2010, at 

http://www.redmud.org/Disposal.html. 

Pontikes, Y., 2005d, Red mud—Applications: Red Mud Project, March 14, accessed March 8, 2010, at 

http://www.redmud.org/Applications.html. 

Pontikes, Y., 2005e, Red mud—Industrial uses: Red Mud Project, March 14, accessed March 8, 2010, at 

http://www.redmud.org/Industrial_Uses.html. 

Rosenqvist, Terkel, 2004, Principles of extractive metallurgy: Trondheim, Norway, Tapir Academic 

Press, 506 p. 

Royal Boskalis Westminster NV, 2010, The Berbice River project: Royal Boskalis Westminster NV 

project data sheet, 2 p., accessed March 3, 2010, at http://www.boskalis.nl/ 

media/downloads/nl_NL/Projecten/Zuid%20Amerika/berbice_river_jan_2010_lr.pdf. 

Simmonds, P.G., Greally, B.R., Olivier, S., Nickless, G., Cooke, K.M.., and Dietz, R.N., 2002, The 

background atmospheric concentrations of cyclic perfluorocarbon tracers determined by negative 

ion-chemical ionization mass spectrometry: Atmospheric Environment, v. 36, issue 13, May, 

p. 2147–2156, accessed February 4, 2010, at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(02)00194-2. 

Singer, D.A., and Menzie, W.D., 2009, Patterns in industrial copper consumption [abs.]: Geological 

Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 41, no. 7, p. 610. 

The Boeing Company, 2010, Orders and deliveries: The Boeing Company, accessed June 15, 2010, at 

http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/index.cfm. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006, High GWP gases and climate change: 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, accessed February 3, 2010, at http://www.epa.gov/highgwp/ 

scientific.html. 

U.S. Geological Survey, 2010a, Area reports—International: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals 

Yearbook 2007, v. III, 1,013 p. 

U.S. Geological Survey, 2010,, Metals and minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2007, 

v. III, 1,070 p. 

Yager, T.R., Bermúdez-Lugo, Omayra, Mobbs, P.M., Newman, H.R., Wallace, G.J., and Wilburn, D.R., 

2010, The mineral industries of Africa, in Area reports—International—Africa and the Middle East: 

U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2007, v. III, p. 1.1–1.26. (Also available at 

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2007/myb3-sum-2007-africa.pdf.)
61

6. Appendixes

Appendix 1. Global bauxite mines in 2007.

[km, kilometer; e, estimated; NA, not available]

Major operating company Location Annual

capacity1

Australia

Baddington open pit bauxite mine {Worsley Alumina Pty. Ltd., manager 

[BHP Billiton Ltd., 86%; Japan Alumina Associates (Australia) Pty. Ltd., 

10%; Sojitz Alumina Pty. Ltd., 4%]}

50 km northeast of Collie, Western Australia 13,200

Gove open pit bauxite mine (Rio Tinto Alcan, 100%) Gove Peninsula, Northern Territory 8,000

Huntly open pit bauxite mine (Alcoa World Alumina Australia, 100%) 80 km south of Perth, Western Australia 20,000

Weipa-Andoom open pit bauxite mine [Comalco Ltd., operator (Rio Tinto 

plc, 100%)]

Weipa, Queensland 18,200

Willowdale open pit bauxite mine [Comalco Ltd., operator (Rio Tinto plc, 

100%)]

130 km south of Perth, Western Australia 8,600

Azerbaijan

Permian deposit Nakhichevan region NA

Bosnia and Herzegovina

A.D. Boksit Milici Mine at Milici 1,500

Energoinvest Vlasenica

Jajce

Bosanska Krupa

Posusje

Listica

Citluk

2,000

Brazil

Alcan Alumínio Poços de Caldas (Alucaldas) (Alcan Alumínio do Brasil S.A., 

100%)

Pocos de Caldas, Minas Gerais State (mine) 1,000

Alcoa Alumínio S.A. (Alcoa Inc., 54%; BHP Billiton, 36%; Alcan Aluminum 

Ltd., 10%)

Pocos de Caldas, Minas Gerais State (mine) 400

Alumar Consortium S.A. (Alcoa Alumínio S.A., 100%) Juriti bauxite mine, Para State 4,000

Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) (Votorantim Group, 100%) Mira Mine 5,000

CBA Pocos de Caldas, Minas Gerais State (mine) 1,000

Consortium Paragominas S.A. [Vale S.A., 48.7%; Mineração Rio do Norte 

S.A. (MRN), 24.6%; Nippon Amazon Aluminum Co., 12.2%; Companhia 

Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA), 5.7%; others, 8.8%]

Jabuti, Para State (mine) 5,400

Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. (MRN) (Vale S.A., 40%; BHP Billiton plc, 

14.8%; Alcoa Inc., 13.2%; Alcan Empreendimentos Ltda., 12%; 

Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA), 10%; Norsk Hydro Comercio 

e Industria, 5%; Reynolds Aluminio do Brasil, 5%)

Papagalo, Para State (mine) 2,000

MRN Trombetas, Para State (mine) 2,000

MRN Oriximina, Para State (mine) 14,500

Vale do Rio Doce and partners Paragominas II 4,500

China

Aluminum Corp. of China Guangxi Huayin2 2,100

Aluminum Corp. of China Nanchuan, Chongquing3 2,000

Dominican Republic

Sierra Bauxita Dominicana S.A. Pedernales region (under development) NA

Ghana

Ghana Bauxite Co. Ltd. (Alcan Aluminum Ltd., 80%, and Government, 20%) Bauxite mine at Awaso 1,000
62

Appendix 1. Global bauxite mines in 2007.—Continued

[km, kilometer; e, estimated; NA, not available]

Greece

Delphi-Distomon S.A.; Hellenic Bauxites of Distomon S.A. (Aluminium de 

Grèce S.A.)

Delphi-Distomon mine, Voiotia and Fokida 500

Eleusis Bauxites Mines, S.A. Plant in Aghia Marina

Plant in Drama

Plant in Itea

Mine near Drama

Mine near Itea

Mine in Fthiotis and Fokida

400

S&B Industrial Minerals, S.A. (Eliopoulos-Kyriakopoulos Group) Mine at Fokida

Plant at Fokida

Plant at Itea

2,000

Guinea

Alumina Company of Guinea (United Company RUSAL, 100%) Friguia Mine, Fria 2,800

Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG) [Government, 49%, and Halco 

Mining Inc., 51% (Halco Mining was a consortium formed by Alcoa Inc., 

45%; Alcan Inc., 45%; and Dadco Group, 10%)]

Kamsar

Sangaredi 

14,000

Compagnie des Bauxites de Kindia (CBK) (United Company RUSAL, 100%) Debele Mine, Kindia 3,000

Guyana

Aroaima Bauxite Co. (United Company RUSAL, 90%, and Government, 

10%)

Kwakwani, East Berbice District2 2,000

Omai Bauxite Mining Inc. (Bosai Mining Co. Ltd., 70%, and Government of 

Guyana, 30%)

Omai Bauxite Mine and Processing Plant 

located close to Linden on the Demerara 

River about 100 kilometers south of 

Guyana’s capital city of Georgetown2

1,500

Hungary

Magyar Aluminium Ltd. (MAL) (owns and operates Bakony Bauxite Mines 

Ltd.)

Bakony District, extending roughly 100 

kilometers northeast along Lake Balaton

1,500

India

Bharat Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Indian Government, 49%, and Sterlite Industries 

Ltd., 51%)

Amarkantak Mine, Madhya Pradesh 200

Gujarat Mineral Development Corp. (Gujarat State government, 100%) Kutch Mine, Gujarat

Saurashtra Mine, Gujarat

500

Hindalco Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Birla Group, 33%; foreign investors, 26%; 

private Indian investors, 23%; financial institutions, 18%)

Mines in Lohardaga District, Jharkhand 750

Hindalco Industries Utkal3 3,000

Indian Aluminium Co. Ltd. [Indian interests, 60.4%, and Alcan Aluminium 

Ltd. (Canada), 39.6%]

Kolhapur district mines, Maharashtra 600

Indian Aluminium Co. Ltd. Mines in Lohardaga District, Jharkhand 200

Minerals & Minerals Ltd. (Indian Government, 100%) Mines in Richuguta, Palamau District, 

Jharkhand

200

National Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Indian Government, 100%) Mines in Panchpatmali Hills, Koraput District, 

Orissa

4,800

Indonesia

PT Antam Tbk (Government, 65%) Kijang, Bintan Island, Riau2 1,300

Italy

Sardabauxiti S.p.A. (Cogein S.p.A., 40%; Comtec S.p.A., 40%; Icofin Co., 

20%)

Mine at Olmedo, Sardinia 350
63

Appendix 1. Global bauxite mines in 2007.—Continued

[km, kilometer; e, estimated; NA, not available]

Jamaica

Jamaica Aluminum Company (Jamalco) (Alcoa World Alumina and 

Chemicals, 50%, and Government, 50%)

Bauxite mine, Manchester NA

St. Ann Bauxite Company Ltd. (Falconbridge Ltd., 50%, and Century 

Aluminum Inc., 50%)

Bauxite mine, Discovery Bay4 4,500

West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO) (Glencore International AG, 

93%, and Government, 7%)

Bauxite mine, Russell Place NA

West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO) (Glencore International AG, 

93%, and Government, 7%)

Bauxite mine in Schwallenburgh, Ewarton NA

Kazakhstan

Turgayskiy and Krasnooktyabrskiy bauxite mining complexes Central Kazakhstan 5,000

Malaysia

Johore Mining and Stevedoring Co. Sdn. Bhd. (Alcan Ltd. of Canada, 61%, 

and local investors and others, 39%)

Teluk Rumania, Johor

Sg. Rengit, Johor

400

Montenegro

Niksic Bauxite Mines (Central European Aluminum Co.) Kutsko Brdo2 700

Mozambique

E.C. Meikles (Pty) Ltd. Monte Snuta2 e12

Romania

Ministry of Industry Oradea-Dobresti Mining Complex, near 

Hungarian border

350

Russia

Komi Aluminum (SUAL Group) Sredne-Timan 3,000

North-Urals mining company (SUAL Group) Severoural'sk Region NA

Severnaya Onega Mine (RUSAL) Severnaya Onega Mine, Northwest Region 800

South-Urals mining company (SUAL Group) South Ural Mountains NA

Sierra Leone

Sierra Mineral Holdings I Ltd. (Titanium Resources Group Ltd.) SML Mine, 150 kilometers southeast of 

Freetown

1,200

Suriname

Suriname Aluminum Co. (Suralco) (Alcoa, Inc., 55%, and BHP Billiton Ltd., 

45%)

Kaaimangrasie Mine, open pit mine, located 38 

kilometers southeast of Paramaribo 

(operations started in July 2006)2

2,000

Suralco Klaverblad Mine, open pit mine, 23 kilometers 

southeast of Paramaribo (to commence in 

May 2007)2

2,000

Turkey

Albuck Madencilik San. ve Tic. A.Ş. Mine near Çırpı, Muğla Province NA

Albuck Madencilik San. ve Tic. A.Ş. Mine near Mihalıççık, Eskişehir Province NA

Eti Alüminyum A.Ş. (Cengiz Holding) Mines near Madenli, which is located about 25 

kilometers south of Seydişehir, Konya 

Province

500

Venezuela

C.V.G. Bauxilum C.A. (Corporación Venezolana de Guayana, 100%) Los Pijiguaos, Bolivar State2 6,000

1

In thousand metric tons per year. 2Data are for 2008.

3

Data are for 2009. 4Combined capacity for Ewarton and Kirkvine.
64

Appendix 2. Global alumina refineries in 2007.

[Unless otherwise noted, locations are for alumina. e, estimated; km, kilometer; NA, not available]

Major operating company Location Annual 

capacity1

Australia

Gladstone alumina refinery [Queensland Alumina Ltd., operator (Rio Tinto 

Alcan, 80%, and Rusal, 20%)]

Gladstone, Queensland2 3,850

Gove alumina refinery [Alcan Gove Pty Ltd. (Rio Tinto Alcan, 100%)] Nhulunbuy, Gove, Northern Territory2 3,800

Kwinana alumina refinery (Alcoa World Alumina Australia, 100%) Kwinana, Western Australia2 2,100

Pinjarra alumina refinery (Alcoa World Alumina Australia, 100%) Pinjarra, Western Australia2 4,200

Treibacher Schleifmittel AG Plant at Villach3 100

Wagerup alumina refinery (Alcoa World Alumina Australia, 60%, and 

Western Mining Corp., 40%)

Waroona, Western Australia2 2,600

Worsley alumina refinery [Worsley Alumina Pty. Ltd., manager (BHP 

Billiton Ltd., 86%, and Japan Alumina Associates (Australia) Pty Ltd., 

10%]

20 km northwest of Collie, Western Australia2 3,700

Yarwun alumina refinery (Rio Tinto Alcan, 100%) Gladstone, Queensland2 1,400

Azerbaijan

Gyandzha refinery Ganca 100

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Aluminij d.d. Mostar Plant at Mostar 280

Ukio Banco Investment Group Plants at Birac-Zvornik 600

Brazil

Alcan Alumínio do Brasil S.A. [Alcan Aluminum Ltd., 100%] Saramenha, Minas Gerais State (smelter and 

refinery)

150

Alumar Consortium S.A. (Alcoa Inc., 54%; BHP Billiton, 36%; Alcan 

Aluminum Ltd., 10%)

Sao Luis, Maranhao State (refinery)4 3,500

Alumínio do Norte do Brasil S.A. (Alunorte) (Vale S.A., 80%, and Norsk 

Hydro Comercio e Industria, 20%)

Barcarena, Para State (refinery) 7,400

Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) (Votorantim Group, 100%) Sorocaba, Sao Paulo State (refinery) 500

Companhia Geral do Minas (Aluminum Co. of America, 79%, and others, 

21%)

Pocos de Caldas, Minas Gerais State (refinery) 275

Consortium Paragominas S.A. [Vale S.A., 48.7%; Mineração Rio do Norte 

S.A. (MRN), 24.6%; Nippon Amazon Aluminum Co., 12.2%; 

Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA), 5.7%; others, 8.8%]

Jabuti, Para State (alumina) 1,200

Canada

Rio Tinto Alcan (Rio Tinto Group, 100%) Refinery in Vaudreuil, Quebec5 55

Rio Tinto Alcan Refinery in Vaudreuil, Quebec5 18

Rio Tinto Alcan Refinery in Vaudreuil, Quebec6 1,300
65

Appendix 2. Global alumina refineries in 2007.—Continued

[Unless otherwise noted, locations are for alumina. e, estimated; km, kilometer; NA, not available]

China

Bingzhou Weiqiao Aluminum Co. Shandong, Zouping7 1,600

Chongqing Dingtai Tuoyuan Alumina Co. Chongqing7 150

East Hope (Sanmenxia) Aluminum Co. Ltd. Henan, Sanmenxia4 2,100

Guanxiangxia Aluminum Co. Ltd. Hebei, Yicheng7 200

Guizhou Aluminum Plant [Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco)] Guizhou, Guiyang7 1,200

Luoyang Wanji Xiangjiang Aluminum Co. Ltd. Henan, Luoyang7 800

Nanchuan Pioneer Alumina Co. Chongqing7 200

Pingdingshan Huiyuan Chemical Co. Henan, Pingdingshan7 300

Pingguo Aluminum Co. [Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco)] Guangxi, Pingguo7 1,200

Shandong Aluminum Plant [Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco)] Shandong, Zibo 1,500

Shandong Huayu Alumina Co. Ltd. (Shandong Chiping Xinfa Aluminum 

and Electricity Group)

Shandong, Chiping7 1,800

Shanxi Aluminum Plant [Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco)] Shanxi, Hejin6 2,200

Shanxi Luneng Jinbei Aluminum Co. Ltd. Shanxi, Yuanping7 1,000

Yangquan Coalmine Aluminum (Sanmenxia) Co. Ltd. Henan, Sanmenxia4 1,600

Yixiang Aluminum Co. (Henan Yima Coal Group) Henan, Mainchi7 600

Zhengzhou Aluminum Plant [Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco)] Hunan, Zhongzhou7 2,600

Zhongzhou Aluminum Plant [Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco)] Hunan, Zhongzhou7 3,000

France

Aluminium Pechiney (Alcan Inc., 97.95%) Plant at Gardanne8 200

Germany

Almatis GmbH (Dubai International Capital LLC) Plant at Ludwigshafen NA

Aluminium Oxid Stade GmbH (DADCO Alumina & Chemicals Ltd., 

100%)

Plant at Stade e1,000

Martinswerk GmbH (Albemarle Corporation, 100%) Plant at Bergheim 350

Nabaltec GmbH Plant at Schwandorf 120

Greece

Aluminium de Grèce S.A. (AdG) (Mytilineos Holdings S.A., 53%) Agios Nikolaos, Voiotia 750

Guinea

Alumina Company of Guinea (United Company RUSAL, 100%) Friguia plan, Fria 640

Hungary

Magyar Aluminium Ltd. (MAL) Ajka Timfoldgyar plant, about 120 km southwest 

of Budapest, near Lake Balaton

400

MAL Almasfuzito Timfoldgyar plant near the Czech 

Republic border, 63 km northwest of Budapest

240

MAL Moson-Magyarovar plant, in northwestern corner 

of Hungary, about 12 km from Austrian and 

Czech Republic borders

30
66

Appendix 2. Global alumina refineries in 2007.—Continued

[Unless otherwise noted, locations are for alumina. e, estimated; km, kilometer; NA, not available]

India

Bharat Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Indian Government, 49%, and Sterlite 

Industries Ltd., 51%)

Korba Refinery, Chhattisgarh 200

Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Birla Group, 33%; foreign investors, 26%; private 

Indian investors, 23%; financial institutions, 18%)

Renukoot Refinery, Uttar Pradesh 450

Indian Aluminium Co. Ltd. [Indian interests, 60.4%, and Alcan Aluminium 

Ltd. (Canada), 39.6%]

Belgaum Refinery, Karnataka4 350

Indian Aluminium Co. Ltd. [Indian interests, 60.4%, and Alcan Aluminium 

Ltd. (Canada), 39.6%]

Muri Refinery, Jharkhand7 450

Madras Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Sterlite Industries Ltd., 80%, and others, 20%)Mettur Refinery, Tamil Nadu 80

National Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Indian Government, 100%) Dhamanjodi Refinery, Orissa4 2,100

Utkal Alumina International Ltd. (Hindalco Industries Ltd., 100%) Koraput Refinery, Orissa 1,500

Iran

Iran Alumina Co. (Government) About 15 km northeast of Jajarm 280

Ireland

Aughinish Alumina plc (Glencore International AG) Aughinish Island, County Limerick 1,500

Italy

Eurallumina S.p.A. (UC Rusal, 56.2%) Plant at Portoscuso, Sardinia 1,000

Jamaica

Alumina Partners of Jamaica (ALPART) (Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 65%, 

and Hydro Aluminium Jamaica, 35%)

Refinery, Nain, St. Elizabeth4 1,700

Jamaica Aluminum Company (Jamalco) (Alcoa World Alumina and 

Chemicals, 50%, and Government, 50%)

Refinery at Halse Hall, Clarendon, 70 km west of 

Kingston4

2,240

West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO) (Glencore International AG, 

93%, and Government, 7%)

Kirkvine Works refinery, Manchester 625

West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO) (Glencore International AG, 

93%, and Government, 7%)

Ewarton Works refinery, Saint Catherine9 600

Kazakhstan

Pavlodar aluminum plant [Eurasian Nautral Resources Corp. (ENRC)] Pavlodar 1,250

Montenegro

Kombinat Aluminijuma Podgorica (KAP) (Central European Aluminum 

Co., 59%)

Podgorica6 280

Romania

Alum S.A. (99.4% controlled, directly or indirectly, by Vimetco NV) Plant at Tulcea, Danube Delta 500

Cemtrade Oradea (Part of CEAC Group) Plant at Oradea, near Hungarian border 250

Russia

Achinsk (RUSAL) Plant at Achinsk 900

Bogoslovsk (SUAL Group) Bogolovsk aluminum smelter 1,050

Boksitogorsk (RUSAL) Boksitogorsk plant 200

Pikalyovo (SUAL Group) Pikalyovo plant10 300

Uralsk (SUAL Group) Uralsk plant7 1,000
67

Appendix 2. Global alumina refineries in 2007.—Continued

[Unless otherwise noted, locations are for alumina. e, estimated; km, kilometer; NA, not available]

Spain

Aluminio/Alúmina Española S.A. (Alcoa Inc., 60%, and Alumina Ltd., 

40%)

Alumina plant at San Ciprian, Lugo7 1,500

Suriname

Suriname Aluminum Co. (Suralco) (Alcoa, Inc., 55%, and BHP Billiton 

Ltd., 45%)

Refinery at Paranam, producing metallurgicalgrade alumina72,200

Turkey

Eti Alüminyum A.Ş. (Cengiz Holding) Refinery at Seydişehir, Konya Province 200

Ukraine

Mykolayiv refinery Mykolayivs'ka Oblast'4 1,700

Zaporozh'ye (Dneprovsk) refinery Zaporiz'ka Oblast' 245

United States

Alcoa, Inc. Point Comfort, Tex. 2,300

Noranda Aluminum Gramercy, La. 1,250

Ormet Corp. Burnside, La. 600

Sherwin Alumina (Glencore International) Corpus Christi, Tex. 1,600

Venezuela

C.V.G. Bauxilum C.A. (Corporación Venezolana de Guayana) Ciudad Guayana, Bolivar State4 2,000

1

In thousand metric tons per year. 2Alumina refinery. 3Fused alumina. 4Data are for 2009.

5

Specialty-grade alumina. 6Smelter-grade alumina. 7Data are for 2008. 8Metallurgical alumina.

9

Capacity in thousand dry metric tons per year. 10Permanently closed in 2008.
68

Appendix 3. Global aluminum smelters in 2007.

[Unless otherwise noted, locations are for aluminum. e, estimated; km, kilometer; NA, not available]

Major operating company Location Annual 

capacity1

Argentina

Aluar Aluminio Argentino S.A.I.C. (private, 100%) Abasto, Buenos Aires Province2

Puerto Madryn, Chubut Province2

460

Australia

Bell Bay aluminum smelter (Rio Tinto Alcan, 100%) Bell Bay, Tasmania 160

Boyne Island aluminum smelter [Boyne Smelters Ltd., operator (Rio Tinto 

Alcan, 64%; Sumitomo Light Metal Industries Ltd., 17%; Ryowa 

Development Pty. Ltd., 12%; Kobe Steel Ltd., 5%; Sumitomo Chemical 

Co. Ltd., 2%)

Boyne Island, Queensland 550

Kurri Kurri aluminum smelter (Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri Pty. Ltd., 

100%)

Kurri Kurri, near Newcastle, New South 

Wales

165

Point Henry aluminum smelter (Alcoa of Australia, 100%) Point Henry, Victoria2 225

Portland aluminum smelter [Alcoa of Australia, 55%, manager; China 

International Trust Investment Co. (China's state-owned company), 

22.5%; Marubeni Australia Pty. Ltd., 22.5%]

Portland, Victoria2 388

Tomago aluminum smelter [Tomago Aluminium Co. Pty. Ltd., operator 

(Gove Aluminium Finance Ltd., 36.05%; Rio Tinto Alcan, 51.55%; 

Hydro Aluminium, 12.40%)]

Tomago, New South Wales 525

Azerbaijan

Sumgait smelter Sumqayit 60

Bahrain

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) (Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Co., 77%; 

SABIC Industrial Investments, 20%; Breton Investments, 3%)

Sitra (primary and secondary) 850

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Aluminij d.d. Mostar Smelter at Mostar 150

Brazil

Albras-Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. (Albras) [Vale S.A., 51%, and Nippon 

Amazon Aluminio Co. (NAAC), 49%]

Vila do Conde, Para State (smelter) 

Belém, Para State (smelter)

455

Alcan Alumínio do Brasil S.A. [Alcan Aluminum Ltd., 100%] Saramenha, Minas Gerais State (smelter and 

refinery)

100

Alcan Empreendimentos Ltda. (Alcan Alumínio do Brasil S.A., 100%) Lamininacao de Pindamonhangaba, Sao Paulo 

State (smelter)

280

Alcoa Alumínio S.A. (Alcoa Inc., 54%; BHP Billiton, 36%; Alcan 

Aluminum Ltd., 10%)

Sao Luiz, Maranhao State (smelter) 239

Alumar Consortium S.A. (Alcoa Inc., 53.66%; BHP Billiton, 46.34%) Sao Luis, Maranhao State (smelter) 1,000

Alumínio do Brasil Nordeste S.A. (Alcan Aluminum Ltd., 100%) Aratu, Bahia State (smelter) 120

Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) (Votorantim Group, 100%) Sorocaba, Sao Paulo State (smelter) 400

Companhia Geral do Minas (Aluminum Co. of America, 79%, and others, 

21%)

Pocos de Caldas, Minas Gerais State (smelter) 95

Aluvale (Vale S.A., 100%) Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro State (smelter) 95

Cameroon

Compagnie Camérounaise de l'Aluminium (Alcan Inc., 46.7%) Plant at Edea 95
69

Appendix 3. Global aluminum smelters in 2007.—Continued

[Unless otherwise noted, locations are for aluminum. e, estimated; km, kilometer; NA, not available]

Canada

Alcoa Ltd. (Alcoa Inc., 100%) Smelter in Baie-Comeau, Quebec 438

Aluminerie Alouette Inc. (Rio Tinto Alcan, 40%; Aluminium Austria Metall 

Québec, 20%; Hydro Aluminum, 20%; Société générale de financement 

du Québec, 13.33%; Marubeni Québec Inc., 6.67%)

Smelter in Sept-Iles, Quebec 572

Aluminerie Lauralco Inc. (Alcoa Inc., 100%) Deschambault, Quebec 254

Aluminiere de Bécancour Inc. (Alcoa Inc., 75%, and Rio Tinto Alcan, 25%) Smelter in Becancour, Quebec 407

Rio Tinto Alcan (Rio Tinto Group, 100%) Smelter in Alma, Quebec 415

Rio Tinto Alcan (Rio Tinto Group, 100%) Smelter in Arvida, Jonquiere, Quebec 166

Rio Tinto Alcan (Rio Tinto Group, 100%) Smelter in Beauharnois, Quebec3 52

Rio Tinto Alcan (Rio Tinto Group, 100%) Smelter in Grande-Baie, Quebec 207

Rio Tinto Alcan (Rio Tinto Group, 100%) Smelter in Kitimat, British Columbia 277

Rio Tinto Alcan (Rio Tinto Group, 100%) Smelter in Laterriere, Quebec 228

Rio Tinto Alcan (Rio Tinto Group, 100%) Smelter in Shawinigan, Quebec 99

China

Baiyin Aluminum Plant Gansu, Baiyin 150

Baotou Aluminum Plant Nei Mongol, Baotou 250

Bingzhou Weiqiao Aluminum Co. Shandong, Zouping 250

Chalco Zunyi Aluminum Co. Ltd. Guizhou, Zunyi 130

East Hope Aluminum Plant Nei Mongol, Baotou 330

Fushun Aluminum Plant Liaoning, Fushun 190

Guizhou Aluminum Plant [Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco)] Guizhou, Guiyang 400

Hanjiang Danjiangkou Aluminum Co. Ltd. Hubei, Danjiangkou 110

Henan Shenhuo Aluminum-Electricity Co. Ltd. Henan, Yongcheng 200

Henan Wanji Aluminum Co. Ltd. Henan, Luoyang 180

Henan Zhongfu Industry Co. Ltd. Henan, Gongyi 180

Henan Zhongmai Mianchi Aluminum Plant Henan, Mianchi 400

Huaze Aluminum and Power Co. Ltd. Shanxi, Hejin 400

Hunan Chuanquan Aluminum Co. Ltd. Hunan, Taoyuan 210

Jiaozuo Wanfang Aluminum Co. Ltd. Henan, Jiaozuo 420

Lanzhou Aluminum Plant Gansu, Lanzhou 210

Liancheng Aluminum Plant Gansu, Lanzhou 235

New Orient Aluminum Co. Ltd. Shanxi, Taiyuan 75

Pingguo Aluminum Co. (Chinalco) Guangxi, Pingguo 380

Qiaotou Aluminum Co. Electrolysis Branch Qinghai, Datong 350

Qinghai Aluminum Smelter (Chinalco) Qinghai, Xining 560

Qinghai West Mining Baihe Aluminum Co. Ltd. Qinghai, Xining 112

Qingtongxia Aluminum Plant Ningxia, Qingtongxia 580

Sanmenxia Tianyuan Aluminum Co. Ltd. Henan, Sanmenxia 110

Shandong Aluminum Plant (Chinalco) Shandong, Zibo 120

Shandong Chiping Xinfa Aluminum and Power Group Shandong, Chiping 360

Shandong Nanshan Industry Co. Ltd. Shandong, Longkou 280

Shangqiu Aluminum Smelter Henan, Shangqiu 180

Shanxi Guanlu Aluminum Co. Ltd. Shanxi, Yuncheng 210

Taishan Aluminum-Power Co. Ltd. Shandong, Fecheng 125
70

Appendix 3. Global aluminum smelters in 2007.—Continued

[Unless otherwise noted, locations are for aluminum. e, estimated; km, kilometer; NA, not available]

China—Continued

Tongchuan Xingguang Aluminum Co. Ltd. Shaanxi, Tongchuan 250

Yichuan Yugang Longquan Aluminum Co. Henan, Yichuan 600

Yinhai Aluminum Co. Ltd. Guangxi, Laibin 125

Yunnan Aluminum Plant Yunnan, Kunming 500

Zhengzhou Aluminum Plant (Chinalco) Henan, Zhengzhou 60

Zouping Aluminum Co. Ltd. Shandong, Zouping 150

Egypt

Aluminium Co. of Egypt (Egyptalum) (Government, 80%, and private 

interests, 20%)

Nag Hammadi 230

France

Aluminium Dunkerque (Alcan Inc., 97.95%) Dunkerque, Calais du Nord 250

Aluminium Pechiney (Alcan Inc., 97.95%) Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, Savoie Province 120

Aluminium Pechiney Nogueres, Pyrenees, Atlantiques Province 115

Aluminium Pechiney Lannemezan, Hautes-Pyrenees Province4 63

Aluminium Pechiney Auzat, Arieege Province (closed) 50

Germany

Aluminium Norf GmbH [Novelis Inc. (Hindalco Industries Ltd., 100%), 

50%, and Hydro Aluminium Deutschland GmbH, 50%]

Lippenwerk at Lünen (secondary) 1,500

Corus Aluminium Voerde GmbH (Tata Steel Ltd., 100%) Primary smelter at Voerde, North RhineWestphalia90

Hamburger Aluminium-Werk GmbH (HAW) (Trimet Aluminium AG, 

100%)

Primary smelter at Hamburg 133

Hydro Aluminium Deutschland GmbH (Norsk Hydro ASA, 100%) Rheinwerk primary smelter at Neuss 230

Trimet Aluminium AG Smelter at Essen-Borbeck 175

Ghana

Volta Aluminum Co. Ltd. (Valco) (Government, 90%, and Alcoa Inc., 10%) Aluminum smelter at Tema 200

Greece

Aluminium de Grèce S.A. (AdG) (Mytilineos Holdings S.A., 53%) Agios Nikolaos, Voiotia 160

Hungary

INOTAL Aluminium Processing Ltd. Inota plant, near Varpalota, 75 km southwest 

of Budapest (primary)5

35

Iceland

Century Aluminum Co. Grundartangi 260

Icelandic Aluminium [ISAL], (Alusuisse-Lonza Holding Ltd., 100%) Straumsvik 162

India

Bharat Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Indian Government, 49%, and Sterlite 

Industries Ltd., 51%)

Korba Smelters, Chhattisgarh 350

Hindalco Industries Ltd. (Birla Group, 33%; foreign investors, 26%; private 

Indian investors, 23%; financial institutions, 18%)

Hirakud Smelter, Orissa6 155

Hindalco Industries Ltd. Renukoot Smelter, Uttar Pradesh2 345

Indian Aluminium Co. Ltd. [Indian interests, 60.4%, and Alcan Aluminium 

Ltd. (Canada), 39.6%]

Alupuram Smelter, Kerala 20

Indian Aluminium Co. Ltd. Belgaum Smelter, Karnataka 70

Madras Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Sterlite Industries Ltd., 80%, and others, 20%) Mettur Smelter, Tamil Nadu 40

National Aluminium Co. Ltd. (Indian Government, 100%) Angul Smelter, Orissa6 460
71

Appendix 3. Global aluminum smelters in 2007.—Continued

[Unless otherwise noted, locations are for aluminum. e, estimated; km, kilometer; NA, not available]

Indonesia

PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminum (Nippon Asahan Aluminum Co. Ltd., 59%, 

and Government, 41%)

Kual Tanjun, North Sumatra 250

Iran

Almahdi Aluminium Corp. [Iranian Mines and Mining Industries 

Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO),3 59.34%, and 

International Development Corp., 20.78%]

Bandar Abbas2 260

Iran Aluminium Co. [Iranian Mines and Mining Development and 

Renovation Organization (IMIDRO)]

Arak 155

Italy

Alcoa Italia S.p.A. Smelters at Fusina, near Venice 44

Alcoa Italia S.p.A. (Alcoa Inc., 100%) Smelters at Porto Vesme, Sardinia 159

Montenegro

Kombinat Aluminijuma Podgorica (KAP) (Central European Aluminum Co., 

59%)

Podgorica (primary) 120

Mozambique

Mozambique Aluminum SARL (BHP Billiton Ltd., 47%) Mozal smelter at Beluluane 563

Netherlands

Corus Group Smelter at Delfzijl (primary) 100

Pechiney Nederland NV (Alcan Inc., 85%) Plant at Flushing (Vlissingen) (primary) 230

Pechiney Nederland NV (Alcan Inc., 85%) Plant at Flushing (Vlissingen) (billet) 213

New Zealand

Tiwai Point smelter [New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd. (Rio Tinto 

Alcan, 79.36%, and Sumitomo Chemical Co., 20.64%)]

Southland, Invercargill 350

Nigeria

Aluminum Smelter Co. of Nigeria, Ltd. (ALSCON) (United Company 

RUSAL, 77.5%)

Smelter at Ikot Abasi7 193

Norway

Elkem Aluminium ANS (Elkem A/S, 50%, and Alcoa Inc., 50%) Smelter at Farsund (Lista)8 96

Elkem Aluminium ANS (Elkem A/S, 50%, and Alcoa Inc., 50%) Smelter at Mosjoen8 190

Hydro Aluminium ANS (Norsk Hydro A/S, 70%) Plant at Holmestrand8 176

Hydro Aluminium ANS (Norsk Hydro A/S, 70%) Smelter at Ardal8 233

Hydro Aluminium ANS (Norsk Hydro A/S, 70%) Smelter at Hoyanger8 60

Hydro Aluminium ANS (Norsk Hydro A/S, 70%) Smelter at Karmoy8 290

Hydro Aluminium ANS (Norsk Hydro A/S, 70%) Smelter at Sunndal8 360

Sor-Norge Aluminium A/S (Alusuisse Group, 50%, and Hydro Aluminium 

ANS, 49%)

Smelter at Odda 50

Poland

Aluminum Konin-Impexmetal S.A. Smelter at Konin (primary) 55

Romania

Alro S.A. (87% controlled, directly or indirectly, by Vimetco NV) Slatina, 120 km west of Bucharest (primary) 300
72

Appendix 3. Global aluminum smelters in 2007.—Continued

[Unless otherwise noted, locations are for aluminum. e, estimated; km, kilometer; NA, not available]

Russia

Bogoslovsk (SUAL Group) Bogoslovsky plant (primary)2 190

Bratsk (RUSAL) Bratsk plant (primary) 950

Irkutsk (SUAL Group) Irkutsk plant (primary)2 460

Kandalaksha (SUAL Group) Kandalaksha plant (primary) 75

Khakaz (RUSAL) Khakaz plant (primary)2 370

Krasnoyarsk (RUSAL) Krasnoyarskiy plant (primary)2 1,000

Nadvoitsy (SUAL Group) Nadvoitsy plant (primary) 75

Novokuznetsk (RUSAL) Novokuznetsk plant (primary)2 330

Sayansk (RUSAL) Sayansk plant (primary)2 520

Uralsk (SUAL Group) Uralsk plant (primary) 150

Volgograd (SUAL Group) Volgograd plant (primary) 175

Volkhov (SUAL Group) Volkhov plant (primary) 20

Slovakia

ZSNP Aluminum Works (Slovalco a.s.) Ziar, Central Slovakia 195

Slovenia

Talum d.d. Kidričevo Smelter at Kidricevo 120

South Africa

BHP Billiton Ltd. Bayside smelter at Richards Bay 180

BHP Billiton Ltd. Hillside smelter at Richards Bay 700

Spain

Alcoa Inespal S.A. (Alcoa Inc., 100% Electrolytic plant at Aviles 93

Alcoa Inespal S.A. (Alcoa Inc., 100%) Electorlytic plant at La Coruña 87

Aluminio/Alúmina Española S.A. (Alcoa Inc., 60%, and Alumina Ltd., 40%) Electrolytic plant at San Ciprian, Lugo 228

Sweden

Granges AB (Glencore International AG, 100%) Sundsvall smelter at Kubikenborg 100

Switzerland

Novelis Inc. (Hindalco Industries Ltd., 100%) Plant at Sierre9 168

Tajikistan

Tajik aluminum plant (TadAZ) Tursunzade 517

Turkey

Eti Alüminyum A.Ş. (Cengiz Holding) Smelter at Seydişehir, Konya Province 65

Ukraine

Zaporozh'ye (Dneprovsk) smelter Zaporiz'ka Oblast' (primary) 120

United Arab Emirates

Dubai Aluminum Company Ltd. (Investment Corporation of Dubai, 100%) Jebel Ali, Dubai 950

United Kingdom

Anglesey Aluminium Metal Ltd. (Rio Tinto Corp., 51%, and Kaiser 

Aluminum and Chemical Corp., 49%)

Holyhead, Gwynedd, Wales (primary)3 144

British Alcan Aluminium Ltd. Locchaber Smelter, Fort William, Scotland 

(primary)

41

British Alcan Aluminium Ltd. Lynemouth Smelter, Northumberland, England 

(primary)

169
73

Appendix 3. Global aluminum smelters in 2007.—Continued

[Unless otherwise noted, locations are for aluminum. e, estimated; km, kilometer; NA, not available]

United States

Alcoa Alcoa, Tenn. (primary) 215

Alcoa Evansville, Ind. (primary) 309

Alcoa Ferndale, Wash. (primary) 278

Alcoa Massena (east), N.Y. (primary) 130

Alcoa Massena (St. Lawrence), N.Y. (primary) 125

Alcoa Rockdale, Tex. (primary) 267

Alcoa Wenatchee, Wash. (primary) 184

Alcoa/Century Mount Holly, S.C. (primary) 224

Century Aluminum Hawesville, Ky. (primary) 244

Century Aluminum Ravenswood, W. Va. (primary) 170

Glencore Columbia Falls, Mt. (primary) 168

Noranda New Madrid, Mo. (primary) 250

Ormet Hannibal, Ohio (primary) 265

Rio Tinto Alcan Sebree, Ky. (primary) 196

Venezuela

C.V.G. Aluminio del Caroní, S.A. (Corporación Venezolana de Guayana and 

others)

Ciudad Guayana, Bolivar State 210

C.V.G. Venezolana de Aluminio C.A. (Corporación Venezolana de 

Guayana, 80%, and Showa Denko K.K., Kobe Steel Ltd., Sumitomo 

Chemical Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Materials Corp., Mitsubishi Aluminum 

Co., and Marubeni Corp., 20%) 

Ciudad Guayana, Bolivar State 430

1

In thousand metric tons per year. 2Data are for 2009. 3Permanently closed in 2009.

4

Permanently closed in 2008. 5Closed. 6Data are for 2008. 7Under rehabilitation.

8

Soderberg pots closed. 9Permanently closed in 2006.