The Biggest Aluminum Producers of 2018

Global primary aluminum production reached 64.3 million metric tons in 2018. According to the International Aluminum Institute (IAI), China and Asia (non-Chinese companies) accounted for over 40 million metric tons of aluminum in 2018.

The list below is based-upon output from primary refiners as reported by the companies for 2018. Production figures shown beside each company name are in millions of metric tons (MMT).

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Chalco (China) 17 mmt

Signage for Aluminum Corporation of China Ltd., displayed at the company's aluminum smelting facility in Zibo, China — Brent Lewin / Bloomberg / Getty Images

The Aluminum Corporation of China (Chalco) remains one of China's largest aluminum producers.

Chalco employs 65,000 staff and also has operations in copper and other metals. The state-owned company is listed on the Shanghai, Hong Kong, and New York Stock Exchanges.

Its primary aluminum assets include the Shandong Aluminum Company, Pingguo Aluminum Company, Shanxi Aluminum Plant and the Lanzhou Aluminum Plant.

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AWAC (Alcoa and Alumina Ltd) 12 mmt

An aluminum coil stands in a warehouse awaiting transport, at an Alcoa World Alumina Australia smelting plant, partially owned by Alumina Ltd. — Carla Gottgens / Bloomberg / Getty Images

A joint venture between Alumina Ltd and Alcoa Inc., AWAC experienced record earnings before income tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in 2018 while decreasing their overall amount of aluminum production.

They have facilities located in Australia, Guinea, Suriname, Texas, Sao Luis, Brazil, and Spain.

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Rio Tinto (Australia) - 7.9 mmt

Privately-owned railway line for mining purposes operated by Rio Tinto — Peta Jade / Getty Images

The Australian mining giant Rio Tinto is one of the world's primary aluminum producers of 2018.

The miner has fallen in and out of the top three over the years given cost reductions and productivity improvements. The company's primary aluminum smelters are located in Canada, Cameroon, France, Iceland, Norway, and the Middle East.

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Rusal 7.7 mmt

Andrey Rudakov / Bloomberg / Getty Images

UC Rusal of Russia has been usurped as the top aluminum producer by major Chinese producers.

The company currently operates numerous aluminum smelters in three countries. Most are located in Russia, with ones in Sweden and Nigeria. Rusal's core assets are located in Siberia, which accounts for much of its aluminum production.

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Xinfa (China) - 7 mmt

An employee working on aluminium products at a factory in Zouping in China's eastern Shandong province — STR / Getty Images

Shandong Xinfa Aluminum Group Co. Ltd. is another major Chinese aluminum producer.

Founded in 1972 and headquartered in the Shandong Province of eastern China, the company has over 50 subsidiaries in power generation.

It also owns alumina and aluminum refining, carbon production and downstream aluminum product manufacturing companies.

Shandong Xinfa's major aluminum assets include Chiping Huaxin Aluminum Industry Co. Ltd., the Shandong Xinfa Hope Aluminum Co. Ltd. (East Hope Group) and Guangxi Xinfa Aluminum Co. Ltd.

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Norsk Hydro ASA (Norway) - 6.2mmt

Fredrik Hagen / Getty Images

Reporting a 1% increase in output over 2013, Norsk Hydro's aluminum production reached nearly 1.96 million tons in 2014.

The Norwegian company is a fully integrated aluminum producer, with operations that include bauxite mines, alumina refining, primary metal production, as well as value-added casting.

Norsk employs 35,000 people in 40 countries and is a major power production operator in Norway.

The company's largest aluminum smelters are in Norway, Canada, and Brazil.

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South 32 (Australia) 5.05 mmt

Mike Fraser, COO of South 32, speaks during the first day of the Mining Indaba in Cape Town — Rodger Bosch / Getty Images

South 32 is an Australian owned mining company with facilities in North America, Africa, Australia, and South America. They are producers of bauxite, alumina, aluminum, and other metals.

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Hongqiao Group (China) 2.6 mmt

Executives of China Hongqiao Group, Ltd. attend the company's earnings news conference in Hong Kong, China — Jerome Favre / Bloomberg / Getty Images

China Hongqiao, which only first showed up on the list of the world's ten largest aluminum producers in 2010, remains at the top of the list for 2018.

Output growth has been driven by capacity expansions and acquisitions, which have provided China Hongqiao with the largest aluminum production capacity in China.

China's largest private aluminum producer was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Zouping, Shandong. China Hongqiao Group Limited is a subsidiary of China Hongqiao Holdings Limited.

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Nalco (India) 2.1 mmt

Aluminum cans containing a Chinese drink displayed on shelves at a Carrefour supermarket in Beijing, China — Lucas Schifres / Bloomberg / Getty Images

China Power Investment Corporation's (CPI) aluminum assets have seen their production rise.

CPI, China's major state-owned aluminum producer, is a comprehensive investment group that holds assets in power generation, coal, aluminum, railways, and ports.

The company was founded in 2002. Its major aluminum assets include the Ningxia Qingtongxia Energy and Aluminum and CPI Aluminum International Trading Co. Ltd.

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Emirate Global Aluminum (EGA) 2 mmt

Jonathan Drake / Bloomberg / Getty ImagesJ

Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) was formed in 2013 with the merging of Dubai Aluminium (“DUBAL”) and Emirates Aluminium (“EMAL”).

With a large production capacity, the company is owned equally by Mubadala Development Company of Abu Dhabi and Investment Corporation of Dubai.

EGA's aluminum assets include the Jebel Ali smelter and power station, as well as the El Taweelah smelter.

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Bell, Terence. "The Biggest Aluminum Producers of 2018." ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/the-10-biggest-aluminum-producers-2339724. Bell, Terence. (2020, August 29). The Biggest Aluminum Producers of 2018. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-10-biggest-aluminum-producers-2339724 Bell, Terence. "The Biggest Aluminum Producers of 2018." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-10-biggest-aluminum-producers-2339724 (accessed May 30, 2023).