In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore the top 20 largest producers of bauxite in the world. If you want to skip the details and find the most strategically important bauxite-yielding countries, read Top 5 Largest Producers of Bauxite In The World.
The largest producers of bauxite in the world own the lion’s share of this metal’s reserves and drive the global bauxite industry. Since bauxite is the main raw material in making alumina (an industry growing at a CAGR of 5.5%), its requirement is increasing in major industrialized countries.
Australia is currently the largest producer of bauxite in the world with its annual mining throughput reaching 100 million metric tons on average. The country also holds the world’s largest bauxite reserves and holds approximately 16% of global resources.
Moreover, despite housing the second-largest bauxite reserves in the world, Vietnam’s annual bauxite production doesn’t compete with other reserve holders like Australia and Guinea. This production constraint can be attributed to Vietnam’s limited mining resources and developing infrastructure yet to compete with the global producers.
Where Is Bauxite Found?
Bauxite is the primary ore from which aluminum is extracted, and it is generally found in regions with tropical or subtropical climates. Bauxite formation is a chemical weathering process that results from the leaching of aluminum-rich rocks under heavy rainfall and high temperature, hence its geographical distribution is in tropical and subtropical regions
Australia, being the leading bauxite producer, has significant deposits in Gove and Queensland. Likewise, China is the second largest producer of bauxite in the world, owing to its extensive mining operations. Other major bauxite producers include China, Brazil, Indonesia, and India among others. In West Africa, Guinea, and Ghana, hold substantial bauxite reserves by country. In the Americas, the largest reserves are found in Jamaica, Guyana, and Suriname.
What Is Bauxite Used For?
Bauxite is a sedimentary rock composed of aluminum hydroxide minerals, iron oxides, and silica, among other compounds. Over 90% of the bauxite mined is used to produce aluminum through the Bayer process, where bauxite is refined into alumina (aluminum oxide), and then smelted into pure aluminum.
Aluminum’s diverse properties, like its weight, corrosion resistance, and high conductivity, make it valuable for various applications. The majority of aluminum goes into the transportation industry (automobiles, aircraft, trucks, railcars, marine vessels, etc.) and packaging (cans, foil, etc.). This resistant metal is also used in construction materials and components, consumer electronics, and power lines.
Besides aluminum production, bauxite is used in the refractory industry to manufacture high-temperature refractory products, ceramics, and cement. It is also employed in the production of proppants for hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in the oil and gas industry.
How Did Russia-Ukraine War Impact Bauxite Mining?
The protracted geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine has precipitated the termination of operations at an alumina refinery boasting an impressive annual production capacity of 1.7 million metric tons in Ukraine.
Alumina refineries are the sites where bauxite ore undergoes the Bayer process to become alumina, and they are crucial for the global bauxite supply chains. The abrupt cessation of the refinery’s functions holds substantial implications for the alumina industry and the aluminum sector at large.
Specifically, with a production capacity of 1.7 million tons per annum, the cessation of this facility equates to a considerable loss in the global alumina supply chain, which could otherwise induce significant market disruptions and price fluctuations for alumina and downstream aluminum products alike.
This war is also the possible reason why we don’t have USGS figures on Ukraine’s bauxite production in 2022. Such interruption in the supply chain, paired with the escalating geopolitical tensions, could potentially exacerbate the global metal commodities market’s vulnerability to price volatility and supply-demand imbalance.
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Other Changes in The Global Bauxite Mining Industry
BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) mines bauxite in South America, especially in Brazil, Australia, and Suriname. Another noteworthy name in alumina and bauxite mining is Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO), which operates multiple bauxite mines, alumina refineries, and smelters to mine the highest grade of bauxite. Alcoa Corporation (NYSE:AA) is the world’s eighth-largest aluminum producer and solidifies its position as one of the largest bauxite mining companies in the world.
But despite big bauxite miners like BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP), Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO), and Alcoa Corporation (NYSE:AA) boosting bauxite production, raising energy costs are impacting alumina refineries and smelters alike. For instance, a paradigmatic case in point is the circumstance in which a significant alumina refinery in Romania, possessing a production capacity of 600,000 metric tons per annum, has been compelled to put a temporary halt to its operations because of prohibitive energy costs.
All bauxite mining companies, including BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP), Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO), and Alcoa Corporation (NYSE:AA) are facing the consequences of increasing energy costs. Moreover, a series of fundamental aluminum production facilities, along with multiple manufacturers involved in the production of aluminum-based goods across the European continent, has recently disclosed instances of complete halt in operations or, at the very least, notable reductions in their production capabilities.
On a positive note, a notable event occurred within the global alumina production landscape: the recommencement of operations at the Jamalco alumina refinery in Jamaica. This refinery boasts an impressive production capacity of approximately 1.4 million metric tons per annum but was impacted by a fire in 2021. This event also sent alumina prices soaring, which eventually impacted bauxite production. Hence, the refinery’s management took proactive measures to resume its throughput. However, the successful restoration of the refinery’s operations can raise the country’s bauxite share in the global sector.
Copyright: joebelanger / 123RF Stock Photo
Our Methodology
In determining our list of the top bauxite producers worldwide, we undertook a rigorous research methodology and extracted data from the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Mineral Commodity Summaries from the years 2018, 2020, and 2023. USGS provides accurate and dependable information about the production, consumption, and general statistics of over 90 mineral commodities in more than 180 countries.
Therefore, these summaries offer a valuable resource to understand global bauxite production trends and country rankings in mineral production. Our sources include USGS, The Global Economy, and World Atlas, among others.
We systematically analyzed these reports while concentrating on bauxite production numbers to create a reliable and up-to-date list. We sorted the data by country, then by the quantity of bauxite produced in a million metric tons. For more profound information on which countries have yet-to-exploit bauxite reserves but currently have limited production, we understood bauxite reserves by country and explained their impact as well.
Such a comprehensive, data-driven methodology offers a clear understanding of the global bauxite industry dynamics, thereby serving as an invaluable resource for stakeholders in the minerals industry.
Based on our research, here are the biggest bauxite producing countries in the world:
20. Greece
Bauxite Production in 2017: 0.18 million metric tons
While we don’t have recent data on Greece’s bauxite production, its 2-17 figures indicate that its annual bauxite production reaches an approximate volume of 0.18 million metric tons. Furthermore, the nation boasts substantial bauxite reserves, with estimates reaching an impressive 250 million metric tons, so there’s room for higher future growth.
19. Solomon Islands
Bauxite Production in 2020: 0.84 million metric tons
The annual bauxite production of the Solomon Islands has been quantified at approximately 0.84 million metric tons. The consistent output of bauxite, an aluminum-rich sedimentary rock, solidifies the Solomon Islands’ significant contribution to the aluminum supply chain.
18. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bauxite Production in 2020: 0.9 million metric tons
Bosnia and Herzegovina generates approximately 0.9 million metric tons of bauxite annually. This volume is driven by an abundance of bauxite-laden deposits and directly correlates to the country’s robust mining and mineral processing sector.
17. Ghana
Bauxite Production in 2020: 1 million metric tons
Ghana’s mineral resources reveal that its annual bauxite production capacity is 1 million metric tons. Also, the nation’s mineral reserve base includes an intriguing element – bauxite – with proven reserves pegged at 9 million metric tons, with these factors coming together to make Ghana one of the top largest producers of bauxite in the world.
16. Malaysia
Bauxite Production in 2017: 1 million metric tons
USGS data elucidates Malaysia’s significant contribution to the global bauxite market as it produces approximately 1 million metric tons of bauxite. Malaysia also boasts 110 million metric tons of bauxite reserves that emphasize its significant potential for future bauxite production.
15. Guyana
Bauxite Production in 2017: 1.5 million metric tons
With an annual bauxite output of 1.5 million metric tons, Guyana ranks 15th among the largest bauxite producing countries. Based on USGS studies and extensive field exploration, it is estimated that Guyana’s bauxite reserves amount to approximately 850 million metric tons.
14. Vietnam
Bauxite Production in 2022: 3.8 million tons
Vietnam exhibits an outstanding global standing in the bauxite industry, with an annual production rate of 3.8 million metric tons. This bauxite throughput hints at the country’s remarkable geological endowment of bauxite reserves that amount to approximately 5.8 billion metric tons, ranking it second worldwide.
13. Jamaica
Bauxite Production in 2022: 3.9million tons
Jamaica’s annual bauxite production of 3.9 million metric tons is foundational to its economy. Also, its bauxite reserves are currently estimated at 2 billion metric tons and represent a sustainable future resource potential.
12. Kazakhstan
Bauxite Production in 2022: 4.4 million metric tons
Another one of the largest producers of bauxite in the world is Kazakhstan, with an annual throughput of 4.4 million metric tons in 2022. This substantial figure depends on the nation’s bauxite reserves, which quantify 160 million metric tons. Such reserves provide a strong foundation for future extraction and refinement activities.
11. Saudi Arabia
Bauxite Production in 2022: 4.8 million tons
Saudi Arabia stands at a staggering 4.8 million metric tons of bauxite production and is an active member of the list of the biggest bauxite producing countries. The kingdom’s annual bauxite production is dependent on its 180 million metric tons reserves that are slowly being discovered and exploited.
10. Russia
Bauxite Production in 2022: 5 million tons
Russia’s bauxite mining sector boasted an annual production of approximately 5 million metric tons in 2022. This vast output, however, represents a mere fraction of its total reserves, which reach an estimated 500 million metric tons and put the country in a strategic position regarding the alumina sector. The quantitative differential between annual output and reserve capacity also indicates a sustainable production approach that will enable Russia to maintain a long-term bauxite exploitation strategy.
9. Turkey
Bauxite Production in 2020: 13 million metric tons
In 2020, Turkey’s annual bauxite production will reach 13 million metric tons. This notable achievement can be traced back to the country’s vast reserves, coupled with the government’s strategic focus on capitalizing on its mining sector.
8. Sierra Leone
Bauxite Production in 2020: 13.4 million metric tons
In 2020, Sierra Leone exhibited an annual bauxite throughput of 13.4 million metric tons. Although not thoroughly developed, Sierra Leone’s focus on its mining sector is on an upward trajectory and has made it to prefer technologically-advanced extraction methods and favorable government policies.
7. India
Bauxite Production in 2022: 17 million
India’s bauxite industry recorded an annual production of 17 million metric tons in 2022 and demonstrated its significant contribution to the global aluminum industry. This figure, however, is one bit of the country’s vast reserves as they are estimated to be approximately 660 million metric tons which will surely impact the bauxite industry moving forward.
6. Indonesia
Bauxite Production in 2022: 21 million tons
Indonesia also made the list of the biggest bauxite producers in the world, as its annual throughput was 21 million metric tons in 2022. Astonishingly, these production figures barely scratch the surface of the country’s potential, as Indonesia’s reported bauxite reserves stand at 1 billion metric tons. Such colossal reserves underline the nation’s long-term capacity for bauxite production and accentuate its strategic importance.
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Disclosure: None. Top 20 Largest Producers Of Bauxite In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey.