Jamaica's bauxite export increased 26.5 per cent in 2018 to 10 million tonnes; production drops through April 2019

According to a local media update from Jamaica, total bauxite exports from Jamaica in 2018 increased by 26.5 per cent to just over 10 million tonnes. It was the first increase in export registered since 2014. 

The higher volume of exports was driven by an expansion in the bauxite equivalent of alumina by 45 per cent to 6.9 million tonnes. This increase offset the decline recorded in the volume of Crude Bauxite export. The volume of Crude Bauxite exported was at 3.33 million tonnes in 2018, slightly below 2017. 

There was a decline in the volume exported to North America. In 2018, Jamaica exported 2,570,000 tonnes of bauxite to the US, a drop from 2,590,000 tonnes in 2017. The country remained the leading exporter to the U.S. and North America. It exported 498,000 tonnes of bauxite to the U.S. (67% of total) in the first quarter of 2019.

Bauxite exports to Asia have registered an increase in 2018. 

According to Jamaica bauxite institute, in April, total bauxite production in Jamaica declined by 5% on a year-over-year basis to reach 754kt. This outturn was the result of a drop in crude volumes generated for the Asian market, as well as, production disruptions at two of the island’s refineries. From January to April, total production stood at 3.3 million tonne.