22 

ALUMINUM1

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

Domestic Production and Use: In 2005, 6 companies operated 15 primary aluminum smelters; 4 smelters 

continued to be temporarily idled. Based upon published market prices, the value of primary metal production was 

$4.8 billion. Aluminum consumption was centered in the East Central United States. Transportation accounted for an 

estimated 39% of domestic consumption; the remainder was used in packaging, 28%; building, 14%; consumer 

durables, 6%; electrical, 6%; and other, 7%. 

Salient Statistics—United States: 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005e

Production: 

 Primary 2,637 2,707 2,703 2,516 2,500 

 Secondary (from old scrap) 1,210 1,170 1,070 1,160 1,100 

Imports for consumption 3,740 4,060 4,130 4,720 5,600 

Exports 1,590 1,590 1,540 1,820 2,300 

Consumption, apparent2 6,230 6,320 6,130 6,590 6,800 

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

 cents per pound 68.8 64.9 68.1 84.0 88.0 

Stocks: 

 Aluminum industry, yearend 1,300 1,320 1,400 1,470 1,550 

 LME, U.S. warehouses, yearend3 28 45 207 116 150 

Employment, number4 71,200 61,700 58,000 56,900 56,000 

Net import reliance5

 as a percentage of 

 apparent consumption 38 39 38 44 47 

Recycling: In 2005, aluminum recovered from purchased scrap was about 3 million tons, of which about 63% came 

from new (manufacturing) scrap and 37% from old scrap (discarded aluminum products). Aluminum recovered from 

old scrap was equivalent to about 16% of apparent consumption. 

Import Sources (2001-04): Canada, 58%; Russia, 17%; Venezuela, 5%; Brazil, 3%; and other, 17%. 

Tariff: Item Number Normal Trade Relations

 12-31-05

Unwrought (in coils) 7601.10.3000 2.6% ad val. 

Unwrought (other than aluminum alloys) 7601.10.6000 Free. 

Waste and scrap 7602.00.0000 Free. 

Depletion Allowance: Not applicable.1

Government Stockpile: None. 

Prepared by Patricia A. Plunkert [(703) 648-4979, pplunker@usgs.gov, fax: (703) 648-7757] 
 23 

ALUMINUM 

Events, Trends, and Issues: Domestic primary aluminum production decreased slightly owing to cutbacks attributed 

to increased energy and alumina costs. Most of the production decreases continued to take place in the Pacific 

Northwest. Domestic smelters operated at about two-thirds of rated or engineered capacity. 

Net imports for consumption increased 14%, filling the supply deficit created by increased demand and decreased 

domestic production. Canada and Russia accounted for approximately two-thirds of total imports. U.S. exports also 

increased in 2005. Canada, China, and Mexico, in descending order, received more than three-fourths of total U.S. 

exports. 

The price of primary aluminum fluctuated through September 2005, but was generally higher than that of 2004. In 

January, the average monthly U.S. market price for primary ingot quoted by Platts Metals Week was 89.8 cents per 

pound; it reached a high of 96.9 cents per pound in March; and in September, the price was 86.5 cents per pound. 

Prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) followed the trend of U.S. market prices. The monthly average LME 

cash price for September was 83.4 cents per pound. 

World primary aluminum production continued to increase as capacity expansions outside the United States were 

brought onstream. Inventories of metal held by producers, as reported by the International Aluminium Institute, 

increased through the end of August to about 3.4 million tons from 3.2 million tons at yearend 2004. Inventories of 

primary aluminum metal held by the LME decreased slightly during the year to 512 thousand tons at the end of 

September from 693 thousand tons at yearend 2004. 

World Smelter Production and Capacity:

 Production Yearend capacity

 2004 2005e 2004 2005e

United States 2,516 2,500 3,700 3,700 

Australia 1,900 1,920 1,910 1,930 

Brazil 1,460 1,470 1,450 1,470 

Canada 2,590 2,800 2,790 3,010 

China 6,670 7,200 8,260 9,250 

Mozambique 547 550 542 554 

Norway 1,320 1,350 1,320 1,380 

Russia 3,590 3,650 3,640 3,760 

South Africa 863 830 850 858 

Venezuela 624 620 646 650 

Other countries 7,710 8,300 8,510 8,900

 World total (rounded) 29,800 31,200 33,600 35,500 

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

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

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

reserve base for bauxite is sufficient to meet world demand for metal well into the 21st century. 

Substitutes: Copper can replace aluminum in electrical applications; magnesium, titanium, and steel can substitute 

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

in construction. Glass, paper, plastics, and steel can substitute for aluminum in packaging. 

e

Estimated. 

1

See also Bauxite and Alumina. 

2

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

Includes aluminum alloy. 

4

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

Labor Statistics.

5

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

U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2006