Aluminium

Domestic production and use

  1. In 2006, 5 companies operated 13 primary aluminum smelters; 6 smelters were temporarily idled.
  2. Based upon available market prices, the value of primary metal manufacture was $6 billion.
  3. Aluminum use was centered in the East Central United States. Transportation accounted for an estimated 40% of domestic consumption; the remainder was used in packaging, 28%; building, 13%; consumer durables, 7%;electrical, 5%; and other, 7%.

Recycling

  1. In 2006, aluminum improved from purchased scrap was about 3 million tons, of which about 64% came from new (manufacturing) scrap and 36% from old scrap
  2. .
  3. Aluminum recovered from old scrap was equivalent to about 18% of apparent consumption.

Substitutes

  1. Copper can restore aluminum in electrical applications; magnesium, titanium, and steel can alternate for aluminum in structural and ground transportation uses
  2. .
  3. Composites, steel, and wood can substitute for aluminum in construction. Glass, paper, plastics, and steel can substitute for aluminum in packaging.

World Resources

Aluminium

  1. Domestic aluminum supplies cannot be met by domestic bauxite resources.
  2. Domestic nonbauxitic aluminum resources are abundant and could meet domestic aluminum demand. However, no processes for using these resources have been proven economically competitive with those now used for bauxite. The world reserve base for bauxite is sufficient to meet world demand for metal well into the future