Alumina is the prime material for the production of aluminium ingots which feature light-weight, high fluidity, high dissolvability and strong absorption of fluorine. It is also used in applications such as industrial and medical ceramics, sandpapers, pigments, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The mounting development in the demand for aluminium has given an extra mileage growth to the aluminium industry in the last two decades. This has propelled the need for alumina as raw material, forcing to build of more alumina refineries or expansion of the existing plant’s production capacity.
The financial year of 2020 signified that China-based Chalco remained as the largest alumina producing company, producing some around 14.53 million tonnes of alumina, followed proximately by the American multinational Alcoa with 13.48 million tonnes. The Russian aluminium giant, Rusal’s alumina output was recorded at 8.18 million tonnes, with global mining giant, Rio Tinto alumina scoring for around 8.04 million tonnes and Norsk Hydro’s alumina production was documented at 5.46 million tonnes. (All the figures quoted are from a reliable industry source.)
Chalco
Aluminum Corporation of China Limited is China’s largest alumina producer in the world. Chalco is a leading company in China’s non-ferrous industry, with a strong portfolio of assets among global competitors. It is also the only large company in China’s aluminium industry that’s engaged in the whole value chain, from exploration and mining of bauxite and coal, the production, sales, and R&D of alumina, primary aluminium and aluminium alloy products, to international trade, logistics, and power generation from both fossil fuels and new energy.
Chalco’s alumina production for the year 2020 remained at 14.53 million tonnes. On 9th November 2020, Chalco’s Huasheng alumina refinery at Fangchenggang Port in Guangxi has commenced operations on its second production line adding another1 million tonnes per annum of alumina capacity.
Alcoa
The American multinational corporation, Alcoa stands as the world’s largest third-party alumina producer. It has a production capacity of 17 million tonnes per year, while in 2020 it produced around 14.53 million tonnes. The major quantity of Alcoa’s alumina production is smelter-grade and goes for the production of aluminium. It also produces non-metallurgical alumina, sold for a variety of industrial applications such as water purification and the creation of refractory.
Alcoa is the pioneer of the world’s first and only low-carbon alumina brand, EcoSource. The American industrial corporation has six alumina refineries spread over Australia, Brazil and Spain. It also holds a 25% stake in the refinery that is part of Ma’aden joint venture in Saudi Arabia.
Rusal
The Russian aluminium giant, Rusal is one of the world’s largest producers of alumina, with documented production in 2020 was around 8.18 million tonnes. The alumina refineries of Rusal mainly produce G-00 smelter-grade alumina, made up of raw materials, bauxites and nepheline ore, resulting in a high-quality product fully conforms to GOST 30558–98 requirements.
Alumina is produced by refineries at the Bogoslovsk Aluminium Smelter, Ural Aluminium Smelter, Achinsk Alumina Refinery, Aughinish, Windalco, QAL, Friguia, Nikolaev alumina refinery. Furthermore, UAZ produces special grades of non-metallurgical alumina that is applied to produce abrasive tools, refractory and ceramic products, insulators, etc.
Rio Tinto
The mining and Metals Company operating in 35 countries around the world, Rio Tinto is the world’s eighth-largest aluminium producer. Rio Tinto produced around 8.04 million tonnes of alumina in 2020 from its refineries. Rio Tinto Alcan owns Yarwun alumina refinery and Queensland Alumina Ltd (QAL) in Queensland, Australia. While Yarwun represents Rio Tinto's first 100% owned and operated alumina refinery, QAL is jointly held by Rio along with Rusal. Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) is one of the largest alumina refineries in Australia.
The world-class Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone, in Queensland, Australia with its expansion in 2012 doubled its production and exports alumina to its customers in Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific region.
Norsk Hydro
The Norwegian aluminium company, Hydro produces alumina at Hydro Alunorte in Brazil, the world’s largest alumina refinery outside China. In 2020, it was revealed that Hydro’s alumina production remained at 5.46 million tonnes.
The alumina produced by Hydro is used in the production of own aluminium production, but much is sold to other companies. In the year 1995, the alumina refinery commenced its production.
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