In a world increasingly hungry for a sustainable yet versatile metal, a staggering 69.1 million metric tons of primary aluminum were produced globally in 2022, with China alone forging over half of that total, revealing a complex industry at the heart of modern life and the green transition.
Key Takeaways
- Global primary aluminum production reached 69.1 million metric tons in 2022
- China accounted for 59% of global primary aluminum production in 2022
- India's primary aluminum production was 4.1 million metric tons in 2022
- Global apparent aluminum consumption was 90 million metric tons in 2022
- China's aluminum consumption reached 60 million metric tons in 2022
- United States consumed 5.7 million metric tons of aluminum in 2022
- Global aluminum reserves estimated at 55 billion metric tons
- Guinea holds 23% of world bauxite reserves at 7.4 billion tons
- Australia's bauxite reserves are 5.1 billion metric tons
- Global aluminum market size valued at $185 billion in 2022
- Average LME aluminum price was $2,680 per ton in 2022
- Aluminum exports from China totaled 6.5 million tons in 2022
- Global greenhouse gas emissions from aluminum production 1.1 Gt CO2e in 2022
- Average primary aluminum carbon footprint 12 tons CO2 per ton produced
- Hydro-powered smelters emit 4 tons CO2/ton aluminum
China dominates global aluminum production and consumption while recycling grows significantly.
Consumption and Demand
- Global apparent aluminum consumption was 90 million metric tons in 2022
- China's aluminum consumption reached 60 million metric tons in 2022
- United States consumed 5.7 million metric tons of aluminum in 2022
- Europe's aluminum demand was 12 million metric tons in 2022
- Japan's aluminum consumption stood at 4.5 million metric tons in 2022
- India’s aluminum demand grew to 4.2 million metric tons in 2022
- Automotive sector consumed 12 million metric tons globally in 2022
- Building and construction used 20% of global aluminum in 2022
- Packaging sector demand was 18 million metric tons in 2022
- Electrical applications consumed 8% of aluminum in 2022
- Global aluminum demand forecast to grow 3% annually to 2025
- China's aluminum demand growth slowed to 1.5% in 2022
- US aluminum demand in transportation rose 4% in 2022
- European construction aluminum demand fell 5% in 2022
- Global beverage can demand used 4 million tons aluminum in 2022
- Aerospace aluminum consumption was 1.2 million tons in 2022
- Foil demand globally reached 5 million metric tons in 2022
- Power sector aluminum use grew 6% in Asia 2022
Consumption and Demand Interpretation
The aluminum world runs on China's colossal appetite, but it's the thirst for soda cans and the shocks from US car demand that keep the global engine humming, even as Europe's construction sector sputters.
Environmental and Sustainability
- Global greenhouse gas emissions from aluminum production 1.1 Gt CO2e in 2022
- Average primary aluminum carbon footprint 12 tons CO2 per ton produced
- Hydro-powered smelters emit 4 tons CO2/ton aluminum
- Coal-based production emits 20 tons CO2/ton in China
- Aluminum recycling saves 95% energy vs primary production
- Global aluminum sector water use 1 billion cubic meters annually
- Bauxite mining land disturbance 200,000 hectares yearly
- Red mud waste from alumina refining 150 million tons/year
- Industry pledged net-zero by 2050 under Climate Vision
- Inert anode technology could cut emissions 80%
- 75% of aluminum ever produced still in use today
- European smelters average 4.5 tons CO2/ton aluminum
- Global renewable energy share in smelting rose to 40% in 2022
- Fluoride emissions regulated below 0.3 kg/ton aluminum
- Biodiversity programs restore 50,000 hectares mined land
- Aluminum intensity in cars reduced 40% since 1990
- Sector SF6 emissions down 90% since 1990s
- Water recycling rate in refineries over 90%
Environmental and Sustainability Interpretation
While the aluminum industry grandly promises a net-zero future by 2050, its current reality is a sprawling paradox of impressive circularity—with 75% of all aluminum ever made still in use—alongside a staggering carbon debt, colossal waste streams, and scarred landscapes, all demanding that its genuine progress in efficiency and recycling rapidly eclipse its entrenched dirty habits.
Market and Economic
- Global aluminum market size valued at $185 billion in 2022
- Average LME aluminum price was $2,680 per ton in 2022
- Aluminum exports from China totaled 6.5 million tons in 2022
- US aluminum imports reached 5.2 million tons in 2022
- Global aluminum trade volume 45 million tons in 2022
- Russia exported 5.5 million tons aluminum in 2022
- Canada exported 3.1 million tons primary aluminum in 2022
- UAE aluminum exports hit 2.4 million tons in 2022
- Aluminum industry employs 1.5 million directly worldwide
- Industry contributes $500 billion to global GDP annually
- Average aluminum premium over LME was $200/ton in US Midwest 2022
- Global aluminum semis market $120 billion in 2022
- China dominates 55% of global aluminum trade
- Aluminum price volatility index rose 25% in 2022
- Global aluminum stocks on exchanges averaged 1.2 million tons 2022
- Industry capital expenditure $15 billion in 2022
- Global aluminum smelting costs averaged $1,800/ton in 2022
- Aluminum industry R&D investment $2 billion annually
Market and Economic Interpretation
In a $185 billion global dance, we all lean on China’s 6.5 million-ton output to keep the lights on, praying the $1,800 smelting bill doesn’t spoil the party.
Production
- Global primary aluminum production reached 69.1 million metric tons in 2022
- China accounted for 59% of global primary aluminum production in 2022
- India's primary aluminum production was 4.1 million metric tons in 2022
- Russia produced 3.7 million metric tons of primary aluminum in 2022
- Canada’s primary aluminum production stood at 3.2 million metric tons in 2022
- United Arab Emirates produced 2.6 million metric tons of primary aluminum in 2022
- Bahrain's primary aluminum output was 1.6 million metric tons in 2022
- Australia produced 1.6 million metric tons of primary aluminum in 2022
- Norway’s primary aluminum production was 1.4 million metric tons in 2022
- United States produced 1.0 million metric tons of primary aluminum in 2022
- Brazil's primary aluminum production reached 1.0 million metric tons in 2022
- Global secondary aluminum production was approximately 36 million metric tons in 2022
- China's secondary aluminum production exceeded 10 million metric tons in 2022
- Europe produced about 8 million metric tons of secondary aluminum in 2022
- United States secondary aluminum production was 4.5 million metric tons in 2022
- Global bauxite production for aluminum was 373 million metric tons in 2022
- Australia produced 98 million metric tons of bauxite in 2022
- Guinea's bauxite production reached 66 million metric tons in 2022
- Brazil produced 33 million metric tons of bauxite in 2022
- China produced 90 million metric tons of bauxite in 2022
- Global alumina production was 134 million metric tons in 2022
- China's alumina production hit 82 million metric tons in 2022
- Australia produced 21 million metric tons of alumina in 2022
- Brazil's alumina output was 12 million metric tons in 2022
- Global aluminum smelter capacity was 106 million metric tons in 2022
- China's smelter capacity accounted for 64% of global total in 2022
- Primary aluminum production in the Middle East grew 5% in 2022
- European primary aluminum production declined 2% in 2022
- North American primary production stable at 5.5 million tons in 2022
Production Interpretation
While China's industrial dominance makes the global aluminum market look like a one-act play with a large supporting cast, the rising chorus from secondary production and regional shifts suggests the plot is thickening beyond just bauxite and smelters.
Reserves and Resources
- Global aluminum reserves estimated at 55 billion metric tons
- Guinea holds 23% of world bauxite reserves at 7.4 billion tons
- Australia's bauxite reserves are 5.1 billion metric tons
- Brazil has 2.7 billion tons of bauxite reserves
- Vietnam's bauxite reserves estimated at 5.4 billion tons
- Jamaica possesses 2 billion tons of bauxite reserves
- Indonesia bauxite reserves at 1.2 billion tons
- China's bauxite reserves are 1 billion metric tons
- Russia holds 0.5 billion tons bauxite reserves
- Global identified aluminum resources exceed 100 billion tons
- Bauxite reserves-to-production ratio is 90 years globally
- Africa's bauxite reserves total 40% of world share
- Latin America has 20% of global bauxite reserves
- Australia's reserves represent 18% globally
- New bauxite discoveries in West Africa add 10 billion tons
- Global aluminum recycling input rate reached 29% in 2022
- Secondary aluminum share in consumption hit 40% globally
- Europe's aluminum scrap collection rate is 85%
- Global aluminum scrap trade volume 8 million tons in 2022
Reserves and Resources Interpretation
The world has locked away a ninety-year supply of bauxite, primarily in Guinea's pocket, but we're wisely starting to treat our existing aluminum like a permanent guest at the party, with nearly a third of all new metal now coming from a well-recycled encore.
Sources & References
- Reference 1INTERNATIONAL-ALUMINIUMinternational-aluminium.orgVisit source
- Reference 2STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 3USGSusgs.govVisit source
- Reference 4WORLD-ALUMINIUMworld-aluminium.orgVisit source
- Reference 5NATURAL-RESOURCESnatural-resources.canada.caVisit source
- Reference 6ALBAalba.bhVisit source
- Reference 7GAga.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 8HYDROhydro.comVisit source
- Reference 9EUROPEAN-ALUMINIUMeuropean-aluminium.euVisit source
- Reference 10ALUMINUMaluminum.orgVisit source
- Reference 11CRUGROUPcrugroup.comVisit source
- Reference 12MININGmining.comVisit source
- Reference 13LMElme.comVisit source
- Reference 14EMALemal.aeVisit source