Bauxite and alumina in 2025 reached estimated world production of 440 million metric tons of bauxite and 150 million tons of alumina, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. Bauxite is the ore, alumina is the refined oxide made from it, and aluminum metal is smelted from alumina. This article summarizes the USGS chapter, explains the main numbers and flags what the chapter does not say.
Who mines bauxite?
The USGS lists estimated 2025 bauxite production, in thousand metric tons:
- Guinea: 150,000
- Australia: 97,000
- China: 87,000
- Brazil: 33,000
- India: 25,000
- Indonesia: 10,000
- Jamaica: 6,200
- Russia and Saudi Arabia: 5,700 each
The world total is 440,000, up from 428,000 in 2024. By our own arithmetic, Guinea, Australia and China together supplied about 76% of the world total. The USGS withholds U.S. bauxite production to protect company data.
Who refines alumina?
World alumina production was 150,000 thousand tons, up from 142,000. China refined 93,000, or about 62% by our arithmetic. Australia followed with 17,000, then Brazil with 11,000 and India with 8,200. The ranking differs from bauxite, because Guinea mines much more ore than it refines, at 360 thousand tons of alumina.
How much bauxite is left?
The USGS lists world bauxite reserves of 29 billion tons. Guinea holds 7.4 billion, which is about 26% of the total by our arithmetic. Vietnam is listed at 3.1 billion, Indonesia at 2.9 billion, Jamaica at 2.0 billion and Brazil at 1.7 billion. The USGS estimates world bauxite resources at 55 to 75 billion tons. We do not report the Australian reserve line, which was garbled in the copy we read.
What about the United States?
Reported U.S. bauxite consumption was 1,700 thousand tons, valued at about $54 million, and about 63% went to the Bayer process that makes alumina. The rest went to abrasives, cement, chemicals, proppants, refractories and steel additives. U.S. alumina production was 710 thousand tons, and about 70% of alumina went to aluminum smelters. U.S. alumina imports rose to 1,900 thousand tons from 1,340, and net import reliance for alumina was 71%, up from 63%. For bauxite, reliance has been above 75% in every year shown.
Where do U.S. imports come from?
For 2021 to 2024, the USGS reports that Jamaica supplied 60% of U.S. bauxite imports, Turkey 16%, Guyana 9% and Australia 8%. For alumina, Brazil supplied 71%, Jamaica 7%, Australia 6% and Canada 5%. These shares do not cover 2025.
How did prices move?
The average import price of crude dry bauxite was $32 per ton in 2025 against $31 in 2024. Metallurgical-grade alumina averaged $590 per ton against $580. For January to August, the USGS reports bauxite up 4% and alumina up 9% on the same months of 2024. Prices for these inputs barely moved over the full year, while aluminum metal prices rose 39%, as our report on aluminum in 2025 shows.
What events does the USGS note?
- Indonesia’s Mempawah refinery, with 1 million tons a year of capacity, shipped its first alumina in April, after a 2023 ban on bauxite exports had sharply cut Indonesian output
- Mining began near Boddington, Australia, in June to supply a 4.7 million ton refinery near Collie
- In August, Guinea revoked mining licenses from a subsidiary of a UAE-based aluminum producer after a dispute over refinery construction, and reassigned them to a state-backed company
- A Louisiana refinery at Burnside has been idle since August 2020
Why does Guinea stand out?
Guinea mines the most bauxite but refines little of it. Its alumina output of 360 thousand tons is, by our own arithmetic, only about 0.2% of the 150,000 thousand tons of ore it mines, measured by weight. This implies that most Guinean ore is processed in other countries, although the USGS table alone does not show where it goes. The licensing dispute noted in the chapter shows why the ore supply from one country draws attention.
What is the ratio of ore to alumina?
World bauxite output of 440,000 thousand tons is about 2.9 times world alumina output of 150,000. This is a rough comparison, because some bauxite goes to uses other than alumina, such as cement and abrasives, and because the USGS gives production for a single year. It shows, in general terms, that several tons of ore are needed for each ton of alumina. That is our observation and is not stated by the USGS.
How to read the numbers
Bauxite and alumina are intermediate products, so their prices and volumes follow the aluminum industry. The chapter gives import shares for 2021 to 2024 and production for 2025, which are different periods. The USGS revised several earlier figures for Germany, Greece and Indonesia, so comparisons with older editions need care.
How does this connect to other coverage?
The USGS places bauxite among the critical raw materials in its summary of U.S. mineral production. Other minerals in our series with concentrated mining include tungsten in 2025 and graphite in 2025.
What should readers watch for next?
Readers can watch Guinea’s licensing decisions, Indonesian refinery output and any change in U.S. alumina imports. The chapter covers 2025 and does not forecast.
Related reading: Magnesium Compounds in 2025: USGS Shows China Mines 60 Percent of Magnesite.
Related reading: Gallium in 2025: USGS Shows U.S. Metal Imports More Than Double as China Holds 99 Percent.
Glossary
- Bauxite: the main ore of aluminum
- Alumina: aluminum oxide refined from bauxite
- Bayer process: the chemical process that makes alumina from bauxite
- Reserves: resources that can be mined economically at current prices
- f.a.s. price: a price at the port of export, free alongside ship
These definitions are general explanations and are not quoted from the USGS.
What is not covered here?
We did not read the stockpile or tariff tables in detail, and we do not give price forecasts.
Key facts at a glance
- World bauxite production, 2025: about 440 million tons
- World alumina production: about 150 million tons
- Largest bauxite producer: Guinea, 150 million tons
- Largest alumina producer: China, 93 million tons
- U.S. alumina import reliance: 71%
Frequently asked questions
Which country mines the most bauxite?
Guinea, at an estimated 150 million tons in 2025.
What is alumina?
Aluminum oxide, the refined material from which aluminum metal is smelted.
Does the United States mine bauxite for aluminum?
The USGS reports U.S. bauxite use but withholds production, and imports supply more than 75% of consumption.
More in Business
- Manganese in 2025: USGS Shows South Africa Mines 38 Percent and the U.S. Imports All It Uses
- Zinc in 2025: USGS Shows China Mines 32 Percent as U.S. Output Falls 12 Percent
- Lead in 2025: USGS Shows China Mines 42 Percent as U.S. Import Reliance Rises
- Vanadium in 2025: USGS Shows China Makes 75 Percent as U.S. Relies on Recycling