Aluminum (Al): Uses, Supply Chain and Market
Facts checked against sources on . How we check facts.
Aluminum is smelted from alumina, which is refined from bauxite ore. In 2025 China produced an estimated 45,000 kt, 61% of world smelter production (USGS world total: 74,000 kt), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). US net import reliance for aluminum in 2025 was 60% for aluminum metal and more than 75% for bauxite. Aluminum is on the US, EU (critical and strategic) and Canadian critical minerals lists.
61%
of world smelter production came from China in 2025
180 cents/lb
aluminum ingot, average US market (spot) in 2025
Which countries produce aluminum?
| Country | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) | Share of 2025 world |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 44,000 | 45,000 | 61% |
| India | 4,200 | 4,200 | 5.7% |
| Russia | 3,880 | 3,900 | 5.3% |
| Canada | 3,320 | 3,300 | 4.4% |
| United Arab Emirates | 2,690 | 2,700 | 3.6% |
| Bahrain | 1,620 | 1,600 | 2.2% |
| United States | 676 | 660 | 0.9% |
| All other countries | 12,442 | 12,850 | 17% |
| World total (USGS, rounded) | 72,800 | 74,000 | 100% |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Aluminum. Shares are calculated from the country figures and can differ by a point or two from percentages USGS states in its text, because USGS rounds its figures. NA means not available; Withheld means USGS withheld the figure to avoid disclosing company data.
| Country | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) | Share of 2025 world | Reserves (thousand metric dry tons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guinea | 142,000 | 150,000 | 34% | 7,400,000 |
| Australia | 100,000 | 97,000 | 22% | 3,700,000 |
| China | 80,500 | 87,000 | 20% | 710,000 |
| Brazil | 33,000 | 33,000 | 7.5% | 1,700,000 |
| India | 25,000 | 25,000 | 5.7% | 650,000 |
| Indonesia | 9,900 | 10,000 | 2.3% | 2,900,000 |
| United States | NA | Withheld | - | 20,000 |
| All other countries | 37,760 | 38,960 | 8.8% | 11,459,000 |
| World total (USGS, rounded) | 428,000 | 440,000 | 100% | 29,000,000 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Bauxite and alumina. Shares are calculated from the country figures and can differ by a point or two from percentages USGS states in its text, because USGS rounds its figures. NA means not available; Withheld means USGS withheld the figure to avoid disclosing company data.
| Country | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) | Share of 2025 world |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 85,500 | 93,000 | 62% |
| Australia | 17,100 | 17,000 | 11% |
| Brazil | 10,600 | 11,000 | 7.3% |
| India | 8,000 | 8,200 | 5.5% |
| Russia | 2,840 | 2,900 | 1.9% |
| United Arab Emirates | 2,540 | 2,300 | 1.5% |
| United States | 700 | 710 | 0.5% |
| All other countries | 14,566 | 15,190 | 10% |
| World total (USGS, rounded) | 142,000 | 150,000 | 100% |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Bauxite and alumina. Shares are calculated from the country figures and can differ by a point or two from percentages USGS states in its text, because USGS rounds its figures. NA means not available; Withheld means USGS withheld the figure to avoid disclosing company data.
What is aluminum used for?
USGS gives the US consumption split of aluminum metal for 2025. About 63% of the bauxite consumed in the United States was refined for alumina or aluminum hydroxide, and the rest went to abrasives, cement, chemicals, proppants and refractories.
- Transportation: 36% of US consumption in 2025
- Packaging: 24%
- Building: 13%
- Electrical: 9%
- Consumer durables and machinery: 8% each
How much does aluminum cost?
| Price | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum ingot, average US market (spot) | cents per pound | 138.5 | 152.6 | 125.9 | 129.5 | 180 |
| Alumina, average unit value of imports | dollars per metric ton | 462 | 518 | 481 | 580 | 590 |
| Bauxite, average unit value of imports | dollars per metric ton | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Aluminum. The 2025 figures are USGS estimates. Prices are annual averages of the series named in each row, so they are not live quotes.
USGS says the average US market price of aluminum rose 39% in 2025.
Is aluminum a critical mineral?
Aluminum is on the US, EU (critical and strategic) and Canadian critical minerals lists. Each government builds its list with its own method, so a mineral can be critical in one place and not in another.
| Jurisdiction | Status |
|---|---|
| United States | Critical mineral (final 2025 list) |
| European Union | Critical and strategic |
| Australia | Strategic materials list |
| Canada | Critical |
Lists last checked against the primary publications on October 12, 2026. See the comparison of all four lists.
Export controls and trade measures
- Indonesia has banned bauxite exports since 2023 (USGS Table 4).
- Morocco requires export licenses for refined copper and aluminum ingot (2025).
See the export controls tracker for dates and current status.
What are the substitutes for aluminum?
| Application | Substitute and trade-off |
|---|---|
| Aircraft fuselages and wings | Composites |
| Packaging | Glass, paper, plastics and steel |
| Ground transportation | Composites, magnesium, steel and titanium |
| Construction | Composites, steel, vinyl and wood |
| Electrical and heat-exchange uses | Copper |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Aluminum. USGS says substitutes often cost performance or money; the table gives its wording for each application.
Can aluminum be recycled?
Aluminum recovered from purchased scrap in the United States was about 3.6 million tons in 2025, of which about 56% came from new scrap and 44% from old scrap. Old scrap was equal to about 28% of apparent consumption. USGS reports no recycling of bauxite.
What are the supply risks and recent events for aluminum?
- March 2025. The United States imposed a 25% tariff on aluminum and aluminum derivative products under section 232 and ended all country-specific exemptions.
- June 2025. The tariff doubled to 50% for most countries; the United Kingdom stayed at 25%. In August more than 400 aluminum-related tariff codes were added.
- August 2025. Guinea's government revoked bauxite mining licenses from a subsidiary of a United Arab Emirates-based aluminum producer after a dispute over building an alumina refinery, and reallocated the concessions to a state-backed mining company.
- 2025. A 228,000-ton-per-year smelter in San Ciprian, Spain restarted after stopping in 2022, and a 500,000-ton-per-year smelter in North Kalimantan, Indonesia was expected to start by yearend. Indonesia banned bauxite exports in 2023, and a 1-million-ton-per-year alumina refinery in Mempawah, Indonesia shipped its first alumina in April.
US import sources, 2021 to 2024. Aluminum: Canada, 56%; United Arab Emirates, 8%; Bahrain, 4%; China, 3%; and other, 29%. Bauxite: Jamaica, 60%; Turkey, 16%; Guyana, 9%; Australia, 8%. Alumina: Brazil, 71%; Jamaica, 7%; Australia, 6%; Canada, 5%. (USGS)
Resources. USGS estimates global bauxite resources at 55 billion to 75 billion tons, distributed in Africa (32%), Oceania (23%), South America and the Caribbean (21%), Asia (18%) and elsewhere (6%).
Which aluminum projects are on official lists?
| Project | Country | Promoter | Stage | List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Arctial | Finland | Arctial Group Oy | Processing | EU, October 2026 |
| EU BEST STRAT | Germany | cylib Production I GmbH | Recycling | EU, October 2026 |
| BAUX-EU, GALLANT and LEADER | Greece | Metlen Energy & Metals and European Bauxites | Integrated | EU, March 2025 |
| New Aluminium Recycling Hub in Greece | Greece | Aluminium Rolling Division of ELVALHALCOR (Hellenic Copper and Aluminium Industry S.A) | Recycling | EU, October 2026 |
| 9PV-up | Italy | 9-Tech | Recycling | EU, October 2026 |
| CRM4Defence | Italy, Poland, United Kingdom and France | Leonardo S.p.A. | Recycling | EU, October 2026 |
| Myne Circular Metals Harderwijk | Netherlands | Myne Circular Metals B.V | Recycling | EU, October 2026 |
| Urban Mining Factory - Printed Circuit Boards | Netherlands | CRITICAL. (owner of Circular Industries) | Recycling | EU, October 2026 |
| Urban mining (TDM Electronics) | Poland | TDM Electronics Inc. | Recycling | EU, October 2026 |
| Primary aluminium and product diversification, Slovalco | Slovakia | Slovalco, a.s. | Processing | EU, October 2026 |
Source: annexes to Commission Decisions C(2025) 1904, C(2025) 3491 and C(2026) 8051. The Commission calls every listed project ongoing; that is not the same as operating. A project is listed here for each material the annex names for it.
Which companies produce or process aluminum?
| Company | Country | Role | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcoa | United States (operations in the US, Australia, Brazil, Spain and Norway) | Bauxite, alumina and aluminum producer (NYSE: AA; ASX: AAI) | Its fourth quarter and full year 2025 results give aluminum production of 2,319 thousand tonnes (2,215 in 2024), up 5% on restarts at the Alumar, San Ciprián and Lista smelters, alumina production of 9,640 thousand tonnes (10,034), down 4% after the Kwinana refinery curtailment, and bauxite production of 37.5 million dry tonnes (38.3). Alcoa Corporation: fourth quarter and full year 2025 results (22 January 2026) |
| Rio Tinto | United Kingdom and Australia (smelters in Canada, Australia and New Zealand) | Bauxite, alumina and aluminium producer (LSE: RIO; ASX: RIO; NYSE: RIO) | Its fourth quarter 2025 operations review gives Rio Tinto-share production of 3,380 thousand tonnes of primary aluminium in 2025 (3,296 in 2024), 7,593 of alumina and 62,400 of bauxite, including 1,561 thousand tonnes from six wholly owned Canadian smelters. It says Yarwun will cut production by 40% from October 2026 to extend the refinery's life to 2035. Rio Tinto: fourth quarter 2025 operations review (21 January 2026) |
| Hydro | Norway (alumina at Alunorte in Brazil) | Primary aluminium and alumina producer | Its fourth quarter report for 2025 gives primary aluminium production of 2,065 thousand tonnes in its Aluminium Metal business (2,038 in 2024), excluding its 50% share of Qatalum, and alumina production of 6,086 thousand tonnes (5,973). It says Alunorte exceeded nameplate capacity and smelter production rose 2.5% year on year in the quarter. Hydro: fourth quarter report 2025 (12 February 2026) |
| Emirates Global Aluminium | United Arab Emirates | Primary aluminium and alumina producer | Its 25 February 2026 results release gives cast metal production of 2.84 million tonnes in 2025 (2.79 million in 2024), sales of 2.83 million tonnes, and alumina production of 2.40 million tonnes at Al Taweelah (2.54 million). On 3 April 2026 it said Iranian missile and drone attacks caused significant damage at Al Taweelah, that the site was evacuated and its facilities entered emergency shutdown, and that complete restoration of primary aluminium production could take up to 12 months. The Al Taweelah smelter made 1.6 million tonnes of cast metal in 2025. Emirates Global Aluminium: results for 2025 (25 February 2026) Emirates Global Aluminium: update on the Al Taweelah site (3 April 2026) |
| Aluminum Corporation of China (Chalco) | China | Bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum producer (HKEX: 2600; SSE: 601600) | Its 2025 annual results announcement gives primary aluminum segment revenue of RMB145,564 million (RMB136,359 million in 2024) and alumina segment revenue of RMB61,585 million (RMB74,046 million), and quotes statistics of 44.23 million tonnes of primary aluminum produced in China in 2025 out of 74.52 million tonnes worldwide. The text read gives no Chalco tonnage. Aluminum Corporation of China: 2025 annual results announcement (HKEXnews, 27 March 2026) |
Each row links to the document that supports it. The list is not exhaustive and is not a ranking.
Frequently asked questions
What is aluminum used for?
Aluminum is used in transportation, packaging and building. Transportation: 36% of US consumption in 2025.
Which country produces the most aluminum?
China produces the most aluminum: an estimated 45,000 kt, or 61% of the world total, in 2025, according to the USGS smelter production figures.
Is aluminum a critical mineral?
Yes. Aluminum is on the US, EU (critical and strategic) and Canadian critical minerals lists. Aluminum was already on the 2022 US list and stays on the final 2025 list of 60 minerals. US net import reliance for aluminum in 2025 was 60% for aluminum metal and more than 75% for bauxite.
How much does aluminum cost?
USGS reports the average 2025 price of aluminum at 180 cents/lb (aluminum ingot, average US market (spot)).
Sources
Read on October 14, 2026. Figures on this page come from these documents; where a number is an estimate, the source says so.
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Aluminum. Production, reserves, uses, substitutes, recycling and events
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Bauxite and alumina
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: introduction (Table 7 and Figures 10A and 10B). Net import reliance, leading producer and price changes for critical minerals
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: introduction (Table 4, export controls by country)
- Federal Register: Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2024/1252
- Department of Industry, Science and Resources: Australia’s Critical Minerals List and Strategic Materials List
- Government of Canada: Canada’s critical minerals
- Alcoa Corporation: fourth quarter and full year 2025 results (22 January 2026)
- Rio Tinto: fourth quarter 2025 operations review (21 January 2026)
- Hydro: fourth quarter report 2025 (12 February 2026)
- Emirates Global Aluminium: results for 2025 (25 February 2026)
- Emirates Global Aluminium: update on the Al Taweelah site (3 April 2026)
- Aluminum Corporation of China: 2025 annual results announcement (HKEXnews, 27 March 2026)
Related topics
China profile
Production, policy and projects in China.
Critical Minerals Lists Compared
The US, EU, Australian and Canadian lists side by side.
Export Controls and Restrictions
China, Indonesia, DR Congo and other measures with dates.
Copper
Profile of copper.
Lead
Profile of lead.
Magnesium
Profile of magnesium.
