America’s last alumina refinery suffers hard: Here’s how US trade policies hit home hard

In the heart of Gramercy, Louisiana, a silent struggle unfolds. Atlantic Alumina’s refinery, the last remaining alumina plant in the United States, is grappling with the heavy toll of shifting trade policies on metal, cars and dozens of foreign exporters. What was once a thriving symbol of industrial resilience now stands at the crossroads of uncertainty and with it, the lives of more than 550 workers hang in the balance.

Image source: Atalco

Atlantic Alumina, or Atalco, is the last operating alumina refinery in the US, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. With 550 workers, the plant processes Jamaican bauxite into alumina, a white, sugar-like compound essential for making primary aluminium. Atalco supplies nearly 40 per cent of the nation's alumina needs. But despite its critical role, Atlantic Alumina finds itself vulnerable in a trade landscape that seems less about local empowerment and more about global politics.

“It’s been a very difficult operation,” said Mark Hansen, CEO of Concord Resources, which took majority ownership of Atlantic Alumina in 2021. “If our company closed, we would be the only point of failure for that entire industry in the United States.” His statement reflects the growing pressure trade policies have placed on the US aluminium industry. While tariffs on imported aluminium were intended to revive domestic production, they’ve done little to support alumina, the vital input still largely imported. With limited policymaker attention and no tariff protection on alumina, Hansen fears the industry’s foundation is at risk.

The federal government's announced tariffs, initially introduced to protect American industry, are paradoxically squeezing its very backbone. The refinery depends on imported bauxite, primarily from Jamaica. With tariffs and trade restrictions in place, the cost of raw materials has soared. For a facility already operating on tight margins, this has meant mounting financial strain and unpredictable supply.

The broader community in Gramercy is feeling the ripple effects. Families that have worked at the refinery for generations now fear job loss. Local businesses reliant on the plant’s economic activity worry about their future. Residents are caught in the growing tension between national trade agendas and regional economic realities.