Unwrought aluminum exported from all countries was worth a total US$74.5 billion in 2021, up by an average 44.9% over the five-year period starting in 2017.

From 2020 to 2021, the value of exported raw aluminum accelerated by 62.1%.

By value, the 6 biggest exporters (Canada, Russia, India, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and Norway) generated over half 51.3% of aluminum shipments in 2021.

Spelled aluminium by British writers, aluminum is the world’s most widely used non-iron and non-steel metal and is the basic ingredient for a wide range of recyclable products. The latter includes beverage cans, construction materials and transport vehicles. Silvery-white in color, pure aluminum is non-magnetic and is also notable for its low density, relatively light weight and resistance to corrosion.

Among continents, Asian countries sold the highest dollar worth of exported aluminum during 2021 with shipments valued at $31.2 billion or 41.9% of the global total. In second place were Europe-based exporters at 34.9% while 12.6% of worldwide aluminum shipments originated from North America.

Smaller percentages came from Oceania (6.3%) led by Australia and New Zealand, Africa (3.4%) then Latin America (0.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.

For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for raw aluminum is 7601.

Top Aluminum Exporters by Country

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of aluminum during 2021.

1. Canada: US$8.1 billion (10.9% of total aluminum exports)
2. Russia: $6.99 billion (9.4%)
3. India: $6.97 billion (9.4%)
4. United Arab Emirates: $6.7 billion (9%)
5. Malaysia: $5.4 billion (7.2%)
6. Norway: $4 billion (5.4%)
7. Australia: $3.9 billion (5.2%)
8. Bahrain: $3.3 billion (4.4%)
9. Netherlands: $2.5 billion (3.4%)
10. Iceland: $2 billion (2.6%)
11. Qatar: $1.6 billion (2.2%)
12. Germany: $1.3 billion (1.7%)
13. United States: $1.26 billion (1.7%)
14. Italy: $1.1 billion (1.5%)
15. Spain: $1.08 billion (1.4%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 75.4% of global aluminum exported in 2021.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing aluminum exporters since 2020 were: Malaysia (up 114.6%), Spain (up 107.2%), the United Arab Emirates (up 103.6%) and the Netherlands (up 86.7%).

Countries Earning Greatest Surpluses from Global Aluminum Trade

The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for aluminum during 2021. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s exported aluminum and its import purchases for that same commodity.

1. Canada: US$7.7 billion (net export surplus up 47.9% since 2020)
2. Russia: $6.9 billion (up 65.6%)
3. United Arab Emirates: $6.6 billion (up 104.2%)
4. India: $6.4 billion (up 84.2%)
5. Malaysia: $4.2 billion (down -940.7%)
6. Australia: $3.7 billion (up 48.2%)
7. Norway: $3.31 billion (up 51.2%)
8. Bahrain: $3.28 billion (up 67.7%)
9. Iceland: $1.9 billion (up 43.3%)
10. Qatar: $1.6 billion (up 35.4%)
11. South Africa: $947.8 million (down -2.6%)
12. New Zealand: $804.3 million (up 48.6%)
13. Mozambique: $685.9 million (down -29.3%)
14. Oman: $665.6 million (up 59.1%)
15. Saudi Arabia: $545.2 million (down -13.3%)

Canada generated the highest surplus in the international trade of aluminum. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms the strong Canadian competitive advantage in the international trade for this specific product category.

Countries Incurring Worst Deficits from Global Aluminum Trade

The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for aluminum during 2021. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s imported aluminum purchases and its exports for that same commodity.

1. United States: -US$10.3 billion (net export deficit up 68.2% since 2020)
2. Japan: -$6.1 billion (up 74%)
3. Mainland China: -$5.7 billion (up 68%)
4. Germany: -$5 billion (up 71.4%)
5. Turkey: -$4.3 billion (up 104.4%)
6. South Korea: -$3.1 billion (up 64.2%)
7. Mexico: -$2.5 billion (up 64.4%)
8. Italy: -$2.3 billion (up 88.9%)
9. Thailand: -$1.7 billion (up 85.1%)
10. Taiwan: -$1.3 billion (up 6.7%)
11. Poland: -$1.2 billion (up 30.9%)
12. Brazil: -$943.6 million (up 173.8%)
13. Spain: -$922.2 million (up 31.9%)
14. Vietnam: -$851 million (up 76.6%)
15. Netherlands: -$819.7 million (up 38.6%)

The United States of America incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of aluminum during 2021., with American imports of the silvery metal far outpacing its exports.

These negative cashflows highlight America’s competitive disadvantage for this specific product category and conversely signals opportunities for aluminum-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful demand.

Major Aluminum Exporting Companies

Below are global aluminum-processing conglomerates that represent established players engaged in the international trade of aluminum. The home country for each selected aluminum producer or rolling company is shown within parenthesis.

• Alcoa (United States)
• Alumina Limited (Australia)
• Chalco (China)
• Emirates Global Aluminium (United Arab Emirates)
• Hindalco Industries (India)
• Norsk Hydro ASA (Norway)
• United Company RUSAL (Russia)

 

Searchable List of Aluminum Exporting Countries in 2021

The 100 key exporters of aluminum in the automated database below represent 99.99% of the value for all aluminum exported during 2021.

Rank	Exporter	Aluminum Exports (US$)	2020-1
1.	Canada	$8,112,964,000	+48.8%
2.	Russia	$6,992,604,000	+65.7%
3.	India	$6,972,391,000	+77.9%
4.	United Arab Emirates	$6,704,876,000	+103.6%
5.	Malaysia	$5,364,608,000	+114.6%
6.	Norway	$4,031,943,000	+60.1%
7.	Australia	$3,870,589,000	+49.9%
8.	Bahrain	$3,284,407,000	+66%
9.	Netherlands	$2,544,899,000	+86.7%
10.	Iceland	$1,966,030,000	+45.5%
11.	Qatar	$1,607,506,000	+35.3%
12.	Germany	$1,298,686,000	+30.8%
13.	United States	$1,257,549,000	+47.3%
14.	Italy	$1,101,985,000	+50.7%
15.	Spain	$1,077,653,000	+107.2%
16.	South Africa	$1,047,276,000	+2.5%
17.	South Korea	$928,484,000	+46.2%
18.	Saudi Arabia	$918,110,000	-9.4%
19.	France	$873,921,000	+64.8%
20.	Sweden	$859,891,000	+149.6%
21.	New Zealand	$828,957,000	+49.8%
22.	Mozambique	$686,850,000	-29.2%
23.	United Kingdom	$667,686,000	+61.6%
24.	Oman	$666,105,000	+38.1%
25.	Poland	$658,928,000	+74.7%
26.	Vietnam	$620,630,000	+44.2%
27.	Kazakhstan	$601,028,000	+30%
28.	Brazil	$543,955,000	+101.2%
29.	Singapore	$543,708,000	+315.8%
30.	Iran	$498,500,000	+76.1%
31.	Turkey	$452,100,000	+429.8%
32.	Taiwan	$442,760,000	+38.6%
33.	Slovakia	$437,654,000	+49.3%
34.	Austria	$412,470,000	+62.3%
35.	Slovenia	$385,790,000	+52%
36.	China	$385,374,000	-8%
37.	Romania	$346,951,000	+26.5%
38.	Luxembourg	$345,320,000	+63.7%
39.	Greece	$337,710,000	+46.1%
40.	Egypt	$314,220,000	+36.2%
41.	Indonesia	$303,188,000	+10.9%
42.	Thailand	$294,918,000	+68.9%
43.	Czech Republic	$287,173,000	+58.6%
44.	Bosnia/Herzegovina	$263,984,000	+4580%
45.	Belgium	$241,605,000	+35.7%
46.	Switzerland	$202,067,000	+36.1%
47.	Nigeria	$183,691,000	+375%
48.	Hungary	$177,030,000	+67.9%
49.	Tajikistan	$135,195,000	-0.9%
50.	Ghana	$111,379,000	+54.3%
51.	Venezuela	$107,599,000	+206%
52.	Cameroon	$103,450,000	+8%
53.	Japan	$95,684,000	+68.3%
54.	Montenegro	$81,385,000	+45.3%
55.	Pakistan	$77,231,000	+335.9%
56.	Azerbaijan	$75,507,000	+18.5%
57.	Ukraine	$70,493,000	+149.7%
58.	Portugal	$58,506,000	+100.1%
59.	Albania	$57,088,000	+194.9%
60.	Finland	$53,574,000	+47.9%
61.	Mexico	$50,403,000	+230.6%
62.	Argentina	$42,990,000	0%
63.	Belarus	$38,137,000	+384.3%
64.	Myanmar	$37,147,000	+145%
65.	Cambodia	$22,443,000	+216.5%
66.	Serbia	$22,149,000	+96.1%
67.	Hong Kong	$21,605,000	+47.8%
68.	Iraq	$20,711,000	-35.5%
69.	Bulgaria	$16,621,000	-27.3%
70.	Bangladesh	$16,517,000	+10420%
71.	Georgia	$15,954,000	+98.2%
72.	Ireland	$15,492,000	+49.2%
73.	Morocco	$15,379,000	+253.9%
74.	Uzbekistan	$14,525,000	+461%
75.	Armenia	$13,954,000	+61.4%
76.	Lebanon	$13,535,000	+1208%
77.	Estonia	$13,359,000	+91%
78.	Tunisia	$12,153,000	+31.2%
79.	Turkmenistan	$10,968,000	+1445%
80.	Tanzania	$10,530,000	+102.8%
81.	Jordan	$9,908,000	+99%
82.	Kyrgyzstan	$9,180,000	+137.4%
83.	Denmark	$6,850,000	+261.7%
84.	Syria	$6,849,000	+32.9%
85.	Latvia	$6,807,000	+142.5%
86.	Mongolia	$5,878,000	0%
87.	Philippines	$4,692,000	+131.2%
88.	Libya	$4,227,000	+13.9%
89.	Croatia	$3,830,000	+182.7%
90.	Colombia	$2,434,000	-6.6%
91.	Gabon	$2,356,000	+112.6%
92.	Israel	$2,313,000	+28.9%
93.	Sudan	$2,220,000	0%
94.	Sri Lanka	$2,145,000	-15.8%
95.	Zambia	$1,543,000	+80.3%
96.	Algeria	$1,030,000	+2092%
97.	Angola	$1,002,000	0%
98.	Mali	$908,000	+208.8%
99.	New Caledonia	$871,000	+160%
100.	Chile	$698,000	+131.9%

You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns above.

An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that no 2020 data is available.

Biggest Exporters of Aluminum by Shipment Weight

In 2021, the following 20 countries exported 83.2% of globally exported raw aluminum by shipment weight.

Listed below are the main exporters of aluminum ranked by volume of the silvery product shipped during 2021.

1. Russia: 3,451,276 tons of aluminum (up 28.2% from 2020)
2. Canada: 2,776,537 tons (down -3.1%)
3. India: 2,667,992 tons (up 24.4%)
4. Malaysia: 2,267,583 tons (up 48.5%)
5. Australia: 1,559,271 tons (up 5.9%)
6. Norway: 1,434,934 tons (up 12.1%)
7. Netherlands: 932,142 tons (up 36.3%)
8. Iceland: 729,813 tons (up 0.2%)
9. Qatar: 618,853 tons (up 53.8%)
10. South Africa: 530,434 tons (down -10.7%)
11. Germany: 484,258 tons (up 0.3%)
12. United States: 455,440 tons (up 7.3%)
13. Italy: 425,966 tons (up 0.8%)
14. South Korea: 358,268 tons (down -0.6%)
15. Mozambique: 347,683 tons (down -39.7%)
16. France: 319,201 tons (up 18.9%)
17. New Zealand: 309,655 tons (up 5%)
18. Sweden: 308,955 tons (up 73.9%)
19. Nigeria: 274,796 tons (up 771.1%)
20. Oman: 268,245 tons (up 0.3%)

The fastest-growing top exporters of aluminum were Nigeria (up 771.1% from 2020), Sweden (up 73.9%), Qatar (up 53.8%), Malaysia (up 48.5%), Netherlands (up 36.3%), Russia (up 28.2%) then India (up 24.4%).

There were 4 decliners in terms of volume shipped: Mozambique (down -39.7%), South Africa (down -10.7%), Canada (down -3.1%) and South Korea (down -0.6%).

Average Prices for Top Aluminum Exporters

The worldwide average price for aluminum exported during 2021 was $3,019.6 per ton.

That average unit price reflects a 46.7% increase since 2017 and a 62.3% inflation rate from 2020 to 2021.

Below are the average unit prices per ton of exported aluminum for each of the top 20 shippers of aluminum during 2021.

Entries are listed in descending order starting with countries that exported the greatest volumes of aluminum by tonnage.

1. Russia: $2,026 per ton of raw aluminum (up 29.3% from 2020)
2. Canada: $2,922 per ton (up 53.5%)
3. India: $2,613 per ton (up 42.9%)
4. Malaysia: $2,366 per ton (up 44.5%)
5. Australia: $2,482 per ton (up 41.5%)
6. Norway: $2,810 per ton (up 42.8%)
7. Netherlands: $2,730 per ton (up 37.0%)
8. Iceland: $2,694 per ton (up 45.2%)
9. Qatar: $2,598 per ton (down -39.0%)
10. South Africa: $1,974 per ton (up 14.6%)
11. Germany: $2,682 per ton (up 30.4%)
12. United States: $2,761 per ton (up 37.4%)
13. Italy: $2,587 per ton (up 49.5%)
14. South Korea: $2,592 per ton (up 47.1%)
15. Mozambique: $1,976 per ton (up 17.3%)
16. France: $2,738 per ton (up 38.6%)
17. New Zealand: $2,677 per ton (up 42.6%)
18. Sweden: $2,783 per ton (up 43.5%)
19. Nigeria: $668 per ton (down -45.5%)
20. Oman: $2,483 per ton (up 37.6%)

The lowest average unit prices per ton were for aluminum exported from Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique and Russia.

The highest average prices were paid to aluminum suppliers in Canada, Norway, Sweden and the United States of America.

The greatest inflation rates from 2020 to 2021 are attributed to the average unit prices for aluminum exports from Canada (up 53.5%), Italy (up 49.5%), South Korea (up 47.1%), Iceland (up 45.2%), Malaysia (up 44.5%) and Sweden (up 43.5%).

See also Iron Ore Exports by Country, Top Stainless Steel Exporters by Country and US Aluminum Imports by Supplying Country

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on May 22, 2022

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 22, 2022

Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on May 22, 2022

Wikipedia, Aluminium. Accessed on May 22, 2022

Wikipedia, Category:Aluminum companies by country. Accessed on May 22, 2022