USA's crude bauxite exports surge by 168% in H1 2023; Imports continue to decline

United States Geological Survey (USGS) data revealed that in the first half of 2023, the USA experienced a 13.4% drop in crude and dried bauxite imports, reaching 1.195 million tonnes (mnt) compared to 1.38 mnt in H1 2022. Conversely, exports surged by 168%, rising from 834 tonnes (t) in H1 2022 to 2,232 t in the same period of 2023, according to the Alcircle report.

Examining Q3 2023, there was a 3.14% q-o-q decrease in imports (21,000 t) to 648,000 t from 669,000 t in 2022. Exports also saw a 66.6% q-o-q reduction (541 t). Overall, both imports and exports in 2023 displayed sluggish performance compared to the previous year.

Q3 2023's import volume of 648,000 t represents 45% of the total imports in H2 2022, standing at 1.426 mnt. The hope is that Q4 data will align with the previous year.

For exports in Q3 2023, the 271 t accounted for only 19.26% of the total in H2 2022, recorded at 1,407 t. Clearly, the export ratio may not match this year.

According to USGS, there was a y-o-y decrease of 290,000 t (9.38%) in crude and dried bauxite imports for US consumption, dropping from 3.09 mnt in 2021 to 2.8 mnt in 2022. Conversely, exports increased by 3.7% (80 t), rising from 2,160 t in 2021 to 2,240 t in 2022.

Note: This article has been published in accordance with an article exchange agreement between Alcircle and SteelMint.