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[January 2002]
New Report Talks of Unprecedented Growth for Bauxite and Alumina
After languishing during the first half of the 1990s, the bauxite and alumina industries have expanded rapidly in the last few years. Roskill's new report - The Economics of Bauxite & Alumina (5th edition, 2002) - says that world production of bauxite and alumina grew at an unprecedented rate between 1994 and 2000 to leave bauxite production in 2000 at 135.7 million tons (some 26% higher than in 1994) and alumina production at 51.6 million tons (28% higher). Average annual growth rates over this period were 3.9% and 4.2% respectively.Growth rates in both commodities was relatively broadly based and, although Australian production accounted for the largest share of the increase in volume terms, Chinese and Brazilian output of both bauxite (16%py and 8%py respectively ) and alumina (15%py and 12%py) showed the most rapid expansion in average annual percentage terms. Output growth is expected to slow considerably in the near term.
Amongst other aspects covered, the report says that markets for non-metallurgical alumina are expected to expand at about 2.4%py to reach 4.4 million tons by 2006, bolstered by demand for cement, chemicals and ceramics. Demand for bauxite refractories has declined, whereas that for calcined and fused alumina for use in high alumina refractories has been maintained and has some limited growth potential. Advanced ceramics used in electronic and wear resistant applications are widely seen as a growing market for alumina, as are aluminosilicate ceramic fibres.
The report contains 362 pages, 222 tables and 55 figures and is available at a cost of £1200 Sterling, US$2400 or 2100 Euro. For more detailed information, e-mail: info@roskill.co.uk
ENDS