Aluminum Production by Country 2024

China produces by far the most aluminum of any country in the world. Producing more than 35.9 million metric tons of aluminum each year, China produces more than ten times that of the number two producer, Russia. Russia, India, and Canada all produce a similar amount, 3.5 million, 3.4 million, and 3.2 million metric tons of aluminum a year.

Aluminum is important for manufacturing. It is used to make vehicles, electronics, and a variety of other goods. As China is well-known for its infrastructure that allows for efficient manufacturing and export, aluminum seems like a perfect choice. Not only can it be directly exported if needed, but China already has the ability to turn aluminum into an even more valuable product.

Only four other countries produce over a million metric tons of aluminum each year. The United Arab Emirates produces 2.8 million metric tons, while Australia produces 1.4 million metric tons, Norway produces 1.2 million metric tons, and Bahrain produces just over 1 million metric tons. Iceland is almost at the 1 million metric tons mark, producing 924 thousand metric tons each year.

The country that produces the least amount of aluminum is Japan. It produces only 1 thousand metric tons each year. This is significantly lower than any other country. The next lowest producers are the United Kingdom with 27 thousand metric tons of aluminum produced each year and Montenegro with 30 thousand metric tons each year. Including these three countries, there are nine total countries producing less than 100 thousand metric tons of aluminum including Ghana, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Slovenia, Turkey, and Tajikistan.

Unfortunately, this lucrative product is destroying the environment. The process of making aluminum is energy-intensive, straining the world's natural resources to keep up with the energy demand. Once it's produced, it continues to harm the environment, introducing toxins into the environment that disrupt ecosystems.