Aluminum
About Aluminum
Aluminum is the most abundant metallic element in the Earth's crust and the most widely used non-ferrous metal. It is prized for its low density, corrosion resistance, and excellent conductivity, making it essential across transportation, construction, and packaging industries. Global demand continues to rise driven by lightweighting trends in automotive and aerospace sectors.
Primary Uses
Top Producing Countries
Quick Facts
- Symbol
- Al
- Atomic Number
- 13
- Category
- Base Metal
- Criticality Level
- Medium
- Supply Risk
- Low
- Top Producer
- China
- USGS Critical List
- Listed
- EU CRM List
- Listed
Explore Aluminum In Depth
Dive into detailed analysis across 11 key topics covering every aspect of the Aluminum value chain.
Uses & Applications
Discover the primary industrial, technological, and commercial applications of Aluminum across key sectors.
Supply Chain
Trace the Aluminum supply chain from mine to market, including key intermediaries, processing hubs, and trade flows.
Mining & Processing
Learn how Aluminum is extracted, concentrated, and processed into usable forms for downstream industries.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore the refining methods, purity grades, and technical specifications that define Aluminum products.
Recycling
Assess the recycling potential, current recovery rates, and circular economy opportunities for Aluminum.
Substitutes
Evaluate possible substitutes and alternative materials that could reduce dependence on Aluminum.
Investing
Understand the investment landscape for Aluminum, including equities, ETFs, futures, and direct exposure strategies.
Price
Analyze Aluminum pricing mechanisms, historical trends, benchmarks, and the factors that drive market volatility.
Companies
Identify the major miners, processors, and technology companies involved in the Aluminum value chain.
Projects
Review the significant mining and processing projects shaping the future supply of Aluminum worldwide.
Risks
Examine the supply risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns associated with Aluminum.
Return to the full Mineral Library to explore other critical and strategic minerals.