Aluminum facts
Light, strong, flexible, non-corrosive and infinitely recyclable, aluminum is one of the most widely used and recycled metals in the world.
Key facts
- Canada produced an estimated 3.1 million tonnes of primary aluminum in 2021.
- Canada is the world's fourth-largest primary aluminum producer following China, India and Russia.
- By using mostly hydroelectricity and the latest generation of technologies, Canadian aluminum producers have the lowest carbon footprint in the world when compared to other large producers.
Learn more about aluminum
Uses
The automotive and transportation industry relies on a variety of aluminum alloys in the manufacture of various components because of their lightness and durability, which reduce a vehicle’s weight and, in turn, fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Aluminum is also widely used in:
- construction, which relies on various aluminum products, from exterior siding to structural components
- the electrical and electronics industries
- packaging such as beverage cans and foils, which benefit from its infinite recyclability
Aluminum, global uses, 2021 (p)
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This bar graph shows the major global uses of aluminum in 2021. The largest use was for automotive and transportation (29%), followed by construction (23%), foil and packaging (16%), electrical engineering and electronics (11%), machinery and equipment (7%), consumer goods (4%) and other applications (10%).
Production
Aluminum does not exist in a pure state in nature. The production of primary aluminum metal begins with bauxite ore, which is composed of hydrated aluminum oxide (40% to 60%) mixed with silica and iron oxide.
It takes approximately 4 to 5 tonnes of bauxite ore to produce 2 tonnes of alumina. In turn, it takes approximately 2 tonnes of alumina to produce 1 tonne of aluminum.
There are 10 primary aluminum smelters in Canada: one is located in Kitimat, British Columbia, and the other nine are in Quebec. There is also one alumina refinery, located in Jonquière, Quebec.
No bauxite is mined in Canada.
Canadian refinery and smelters estimated capacity and production, 2021
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This map shows the location of the alumina refinery and aluminum smelters in Canada. There is one alumina refinery (located in Quebec), and there are 10 aluminum smelters (one in Kitimat, British Columbia, and nine in Quebec). The largest smelter is the Alouette facility, located in Sept-Îles, Quebec, with a production level of 629,000 tonnes per year. The ownership and production level in tonnes per year of each facility are provided in the legend.
Canada's primary aluminum production is estimated to have remained steady at 3.1 million tonnes in 2021, compared to 2020. Using mostly hydroelectricity and the latest generation of technologies, Canadian aluminum producers have the lowest carbon footprint among the world's largest producers.
Canadian production of primary aluminum, 2012–2021 (p)
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This bar graph shows Canada's annual primary aluminum production from 2012 to 2021. Canada produced approximately 2.8 million tonnes in 2012. Production reached a decade high of 3.2 million tonnes in 2017 before decreasing to 2.9 million tonnes by 2019. Production rebounded in 2020 to 3.1 million tonnes and remained steady in 2021.
International context
World primary aluminum production is estimated to have been 68.0 million tonnes in 2021. China was the world's largest producer with 39.0 million tonnes, followed by India, Russia, and Canada.
Find out more about the leading global producers:
Bauxite ore, by country
| Ranking | Country | Thousand tonnes | Percentage of total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 110,000 | 28.2% |
| 2 | China | 86,000 | 22.1% |
| 3 | Guinea | 85,000 | 21.8% |
| 4 | Brazil | 32,000 | 8.2% |
| 5 | India | 22,000 | 5.6% |
| 6 | Indonesia | 18,000 | 4.6% |
| 7 | Russia | 6,200 | 1.6% |
| 8 | Jamaica | 5,800 | 1.5% |
| Other countries | 25,000 | 6.4% | |
| Total | 390,000 | 100.0% |
Alumina, by country
| Ranking | Country | Thousand tonnes | Percentage of total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 74,000 | 53.5% |
| 2 | Australia | 21,000 | 15.2% |
| 3 | Brazil | 11,000 | 8.0% |
| 4 | India | 6,800 | 4.9% |
| 5 | Russia | 3,100 | 2.2% |
| 6 | United Arab Emirates | 2,000 | 1.5% |
| 7 | Germany | 1,900 | 1.4% |
| 8 | Ireland | 1,900 | 1.4% |
| 9 | Canada | 1,500 | 1.1% |
| Other countries | 15,100 | 10.9% | |
| Total | 138,300 | 100.0% |
Primary aluminum, by country
| Ranking | Country | Thousand tonnes | Percentage of total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 39,000 | 57.4% |
| 2 | India | 3,900 | 5.7% |
| 3 | Russia | 3,700 | 5.4% |
| 4 | Canada | 3,100 | 4.6% |
| 5 | United Arab Emirates | 2,600 | 3.8% |
| 6 | Australia | 1,600 | 2.4% |
| 7 | Bahrain | 1,500 | 2.2% |
| 8 | Norway | 1,400 | 2.1% |
| 9 | United States | 880 | 1.3% |
| 10 | Iceland | 880 | 1.3% |
| Other countries | 9,400 | 13.8% | |
| Total | 67,960 | 100.0% |
World production of primary aluminum, 2012–2021 (p)
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This bar graph shows the world production of primary aluminum in millions of tonnes from 2012 to 2021. World production was 46.3 million tonnes in 2012 and steadily increased annually, reaching a decade high of 68.0 million tonnes in 2021.
World reserves
In 2021, world reserves of bauxite ore were 32.0 billion tonnes.
World reserves of bauxite ore, by country, 2021 (p)
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This bar graph shows the world reserves of bauxite ore by country in billions of tonnes for 2021. Guinea held the largest reserves, with 7.4 billion tonnes, followed by Vietnam (5.8 billion tonnes), Australia (5.3 billion tonnes), Brazil (2.7 billion tonnes), Jamaica (2.0 billion tonnes), Indonesia (1.2 billion tonnes) and other countries (7.6 billion tonnes).
Demand
Global demand for primary aluminum reached an estimated 68.7 million tonnes in 2021, a 8% increase from the 2020. World aluminum demand has grown at an average annual rate of 5% between 2012 and 2021, largely supported by increased demand in China and key sectors such as construction and transportation.
China accounted for the largest share of global aluminum consumption by region in 2021, followed by Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East.
Primary aluminum demand, by region, 2021
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This pie chart shows the estimated demand for primary aluminum by region in 2021. China accounted for the largest percentage of global demand (57.3%), followed by Europe (14.5%), Asia (excluding China) (11.5%), North America (9.6%), Middle East (2.3%) and other countries (4.8%).
Trade
Exports
Canadian exports of aluminum products were valued at $15.2 billion in 2021, which is an increase of 37% over 2020, a reflection of higher prices.
Exports included:
- $10.2 billion was unwrought alloyed and non-alloyed aluminum
- $2.2 billion was semi-finished aluminum products
- $1.4 billion was finished aluminum products
- $1.4 billion was aluminum waste and scrap
The United States was Canada's largest export destination for aluminum products in 2021, accounting for 89% of the total value of aluminum exports, followed by Mexico (3%), and Netherlands (1%).
Imports
Canada's total imports of aluminum products were valued at $8.4 billion in 2021, an increase of $1.3 billion or 18.3% over 2020. Imports of bauxite concentrate and alumina for processing into aluminum accounted for 2.0 billion or 24% of Canada’s aluminum imports in 2021.
Imports came from the United States (40%), Brazil (21%), China (17%), Australia (3%) and Germany (2%).
Prices
Aluminum prices continued a salient increase in 2021 as a result of increased global demand for the metal. Prices roughly doubled between the eighteen month period of May 2020 to October 2021, before decreasing to a monthly average of US$2,696 in December 2021.
Aluminum prices, monthly average, 2012–2021
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This line graph displays the monthly average price of aluminum in US dollars per tonne from 2012 to 2021. In January 2012, the price was $2,144 per tonne. Prices fluctuated slightly, but generally decreased to a low of $1,467 per tonne by November 2015. Prices increased to $2,300 by May 2018 before decreasing again to decade low of $1,460 in April 2020. Rebounding, prices reached a decade high of $2,934 in October 2021 before decreasing to a monthly average of $2,696 in December 2021.
Recycling
The intensity of aluminum use in transportation is rising as its unique properties (e.g. light weight and strength) and recyclability contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Aluminum is infinitely recyclable, making it one of the most recycled metals in the world. More than 90% of the aluminum used in automotive and construction applications is recycled, driving a closed-loop circular economy.
Secondary aluminum production requires 95% less energy than primary aluminum production.
Notes and sources
(p) preliminary
Totals may be different because of rounding.
Uses
- Aluminum, global uses, 2021 (p)
- Wood Mackenzie
Production
- Canadian refinery and smelters, estimated production, 2021
- Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada
- Company annual reports
- Canadian production of primary aluminum, 2012–2021 (p)
- Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada
- Company annual reports
International context
- World production of bauxite ore, by country, 2021 (p)
- U.S. Geological Survey
- World production of alumina, by country, 2021 (p)
- U.S. Geological Survey
- World production of primary aluminum, by country, 2021 (p)
- U.S. Geological Survey
- World production of primary aluminum, 2012–2021 (p)
- U.S. Geological Survey
- World reserves of bauxite ore, by country, 2021 (p)
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Primary aluminum demand, by region, 2021
- Wood Mackenzie
Trade
- Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada
- Mineral trade includes ores, concentrates, and semi- and final-fabricated mineral products
Prices
- Aluminum prices, monthly average, 2012–2021
- The World Bank
Recycling
- The Aluminum Association of Canada
- Date modified: