What countries are the source of 100% of the U.S. needs for bauxite and other aluminum ores?

Answer 1

The US gets bauxite from several countries, including a few very minor domestic sources that usually produce quantities too small to show up in any data.

Australia is the major worldwide producer with about a 40% share in most years recently, but shipping distance to the USA makes Australian bauxite less competitive than closer sources like Brazil, Guinea, Venzuela, and Jamaica. Bauxite that has been processed into alumina is slightly more competitive and allows Austrailia to compete better in the US market. All together about 2 dozen countries export bauxite. Which ones are used to supply the demand for bauxite changes from year to year and is based on which is most economical. Fuel prices for shipping and ability to meet production demands on time are key factors.



USGS estimated data for US imports, 2001 - 2004:

Bauxite: Jamaica, 37%; Guinea, 32%; Brazil, 12%; Guyana, 11%; and other, 8%.

Alumina: Australia, 53%; Suriname, 26%; Jamaica, 10%; and other, 11%.

Total: Jamaica, 26%; Australia, 22%; Guinea, 19%; Suriname, 10%; and other, 23%.

Answer 2

Australia produces an enormous amount of bauxite every year. i vote for them.In 2005, Australia was the top producer of bauxite with almost one-third world share, followed by Guinea, Brazil and China, reports the British Geological Survey.
(x1000 tonne, Numbers for 2001 estimated) Country Mine production Reserves Reserve base
2000 2001
Australia 53,800 53,500 3,800,000 7,400,000
Brazil 14,000 14,000 3,900,000 4,900,000
People's Republic of China 9,000 9,200 720,000 2,000,000
Guinea 15,000 15,000 7,400,000 8,600,000
Guyana 2,400 2,000 700,000 900,000
India 7,370 8,000 770,000 1,400,000
Jamaica 11,100 13,000 2,000,000 2,500,000
Russia 4,200 4,000 200,000 250,000
Suriname 3,610 4,000 580,000 600,000
United States NA NA 20,000 40,000
Venezuela 4,200 4,400 320,000 350,000
Other countries 10,800 10,200 4,100,000 4,700,000
World total (rounded) 135,000 137,000 24,000,000 34,000,000