Even as Chinese Aluminum Production Slows Down, Other Emerging Markets Step Up to Sustain Growth in the Bauxite and Alumina Market
Increasing production of primary aluminum in India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, as well as increasing use in non-metallurgical applications are poised to drive global Bauxite consumption to exceed 327 million metric tons by 2024, and Alumina consumption to reach 164 million metric tons by 2024 . Bauxite is a naturally occurring heterogeneous material mainly composed of aluminum hydroxide minerals. Bauxite ore is the most important mineral used to produce alumina, the raw material from which aluminum is produced. Bauxite’s other major uses are in abrasives, refractories, aluminous cements, chemicals and proppants. Alumina is a silvery-white colored ductile metal, possessing excellent thermal and conductive characteristics. While much of the alumina is utilized in the production of primary aluminum, non-metallurgical grade alumina is used in refractories. The world Bauxite and Alumina market is growing at a steady rate at the behest of growing aluminum demand, and henc...