Economic Revival and Steady Production Levels Drives the Bauxite and Alumina Markets Worldwide, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

 

 

San Jose, California (PRWEB) March 22, 2012

 

 

Follow us on LinkedIn – Prevailing conditions in the aluminum market play a significant role in determining the demand for both bauxite and alumina markets. In the current scenario, the available bauxite resources fall short of the long-term requirements for aluminum manufacturers. However, leading aluminum producing countries such as China, US, Guinea, Australia and Brazil have sufficient reserves of aluminum and bauxite ores. In 2011, Australia, China and Brazil represented some of the leading countries, accounting for a major share of the global Bauxite production. Increase in output from new, expanded and reopened mines in China, Guinea, Brazil, Jamaica, and India lent weight to the overall bauxite production during the year.

 

 

China, Australia, Brazil and US ranks among the top producers of Alumina worldwide. A major part of alumina output in Australia and Latin America is utilized in metallurgical applications, while there has been a significant increase in non-metallurgical applications in recent times in major regions including Western Europe, Japan and North America. Worldwide, production of alumina is carried out mainly in Europe, Asia, America, Oceania and Africa. China dominates as the single largest producer of Aluminum in Asia. Alumina is primarily used for downstream aluminum production, generating leading to majority demand for metallurgical-grade alumina. The metallurgical grade alumina market witnessed steady, continuous growth over the years, with the exception of year 2009, when the market declined on account of the global economic crisis.

 

 

The worldwide economic recession adversely impacted and derailed the momentum of bauxite and alumina market. Several matured regions such as the US, Canada and Japan observed a fall in demand for alumina during 2008-2009 due to the closure of various aluminum smelters, and reduced output. Prices of the minerals also remained relatively flat during this period. The credit crisis that affected various parts of the globe led to a downfall in automobile manufacturing and home construction activity. This had a direct negative impact on the bauxite and alumina industry. The use of aluminum for various infrastructural projects in developing regions was dented and the refinery and mine expansion projects in various parts of the world were also halted due to the financial crisis.

 

 

Refractories and abrasives represent major markets for non-metallurgical bauxite and alumina. Other applications of non-metallurgical grade of bauxite and alumina include aluminous cements, chemicals and proppants. Buoyed by demand from China, demand from the abrasives segment is also anticipated to register robust increase, with BFA (brown fused alumina) and proppants production constituting the majority of the consumption. The proppants sub-segment, in particular, is forecast to surge in the near future as production in the end-use shale gas industry rises. Demand from end-use manufacturing sectors for aluminum, cement and slag conditioners, where raw bauxite is employed directly for non-metallurgical applications, is forecast to grow at a modest pace of about 2%-3% in the near term. In future, high performance materials would influence the demand for both bauxite and alumina markets. The application of alumina trihydrate in flame-retardants and calcined alumina in electronic ceramics and bioceramics is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

 

 

Asia-Pacific, powered by intense activity in dominant markets such as China, Australia, India and others represents the single largest global region, as stated by the new market research report on Bauxite and Alumina. Asia is also expected to be the fastest growing region at a steady CAGR of 4.5% through 2017, bolstered by economic revival, demand from end-use industries and burgeoning growth in South Korea, China, India and Australia.

 

 

The metallurgical grade accounts for the largest chunk of the overall bauxite and alumina market. Europe, Asia and North America represent leading markets for this particular grade. While much of the alumina is utilized in the production of primary aluminum, use of non-metallurgical grade alumina is slated to increase at a pace of about 3% over the next few years.

 

 

Key players profiled in the report include Alumina Limited, Alcoa Inc., Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, Alumar, BHP Billiton Group, CVG Bauxilum, Gencor Limited, Glencore International Plc, Century Aluminum Company, Gencor Ltd., Hindalco Industries Ltd., National Aluminum Company Ltd., Norsk Hydro ASA, Rio Tinto Alcan Inc., United Company RUSAL, and Vale SA.

 

 

The research report titled “Bauxite and Alumina: A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., covers the broad spectrum of bauxite and alumina markets, analyzing the impact of recession, current market trends and key growth drivers. The research report offers a gist of recent industry activity, and a snapshot of the key global market participants. Annual sales estimates and projections are provided for the years 2009 through 2017 in volume (metric tons) terms for geographic markets including US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of World. Key product segments include, Metallurgical and Non-Metallurgical grades for Bauxite and Alumina. The study also provides historic data for an insight into market evolution over the period 2003 through 2008.

 

 

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world's largest and reputed market research firms.