This list reveals the top 10 aluminum importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2015, world aluminum imports totaled US$165 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $5.1 billion worth of aluminum led by the following countries:
1. Nigeria: $651.5 million
2. South Africa: $621.8 million
3. Egypt: $584.6 million
4. Mozambique: $518.9 million
5. Algeria: $513.4 million
6. Morocco: $386.9 million
7. Ethiopia: $353 million
8. Angola: $189.1 million
9. Tunisia: $169.4 million
10. Kenya: $162.1 million
Asian Importers
Asia imported $45.5 billion worth of aluminum led by the following countries:
1. Japan: $8 billion
2. China: $6.9 billion
3. South Korea: $6 billion
4. Vietnam: $4.1 billion
5. India: $3.6 billion
6. Turkey: $3.3 billion
7. Thailand: $3 billion
8. Malaysia: $2.7 billion
9. Taiwan: $2.1 billion
10. Singapore: $1.3 billion
European Importers
Europe imported $73.8 billion worth of aluminum led by the following countries:
1. Germany: $17 billion
2. Netherlands: $7.5 billion
3. France: $6.6 billion
4. Italy: $5.6 billion
5. United Kingdom: $4.9 billion
6. Poland: $3.7 billion
7. Austria: $3.2 billion
8. Belgium: $3.1 billion
9. Spain: $2.9 billion
10. Switzerland: $2.7 billion
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America imported $4.7 billion worth of aluminum led by the following countries:
1. Brazil: $1.7 billion
2. Chile: $433.8 million
3. Colombia: $404.6 million
4. Argentina: $286.6 million
5. Peru: $246.3 million
6. Guatemala: $187.1 million
7. Costa Rica: $168.2 million
8. Venezuela: $143.6 million
9. Dominican Republic: $129.4 million
10. Panama: $128.8 million
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $6.6 billion worth of aluminum led by the following countries:
1. Saudi Arabia: $2.2 billion
2. United Arab Emirates: $1.6 billion
3. Israel: $523.7 million
4. Iran: $380.9 million
5. Iraq: $361.9 million
6. Kuwait: $353.6 million
7. Bahrain: $335.9 million
8. Qatar: $234.1 million
9. Jordan: $209.2 million
10. Oman: $197.7 million
North American Importers
North America imported $27.3 billion worth of aluminum led by the following countries:
1. United States: $17.9 billion
2. Mexico: $5.5 billion
3. Canada: $3.9 billion
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $1.8 billion worth of aluminum led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $1.5 billion
2. New Zealand: $210.4 million
3. Papua New Guinea: $40.9 million
4. New Caledonia: $23.3 million
5. Fiji: $14.9 million
6. French Polynesia: $12 million
7. Samoa: $4.3 million
8. Vanuatu: $3.4 million
9. Solomon Islands: $2.1 million
10. Tonga: $1.9 million
To see the 25 fastest-growing aluminum importers from 2011 to 2015, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage decline for globally imported aluminum was -6.4%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Aluminum Importers 2015
Fastest-Growing Aluminum Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
