Alumina imports in the United States increased in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, although imports fell sharply in the second quarter. Total imports reached 712,000 tonnes in H1 2026, up 2.7 per cent from 693,000 tonnes in H1 2025. The H1 2024 total was 495,000 tonnes.
Imports in Q1 2026 reached 446,000 tonnes, up 32 per cent from 337,000 tonnes in Q1 2025. However, imports dropped to 266,000 tonnes in Q2 (a 25 per cent decline) from 356,000 tonnes in the same quarter a year earlier.
Brazil remained the largest exporter of alumina to the US during the period covered by the data. Its shipments reached 568,000 tonnes in H1 2026, around 5 per cent increase from 542,000 tonnes in H1 2025. In H1 2024, Brazil supplied 430,000 tonnes.
Alumina shipments were 342,000 tonnes in Q1 2026, up from 270,000 tonnes in Q1 2025 (up 27 per cent). The volume was also 141,000 tonnes higher than the 201,000 tonnes recorded in Q1 2024.
However, Brazilian shipments fell in Q2 2026. Exports dropped to 226,000 tonnes from 272,000 tonnes in Q2 2025 (17 per cent decline). The Q2 2026 volume was slightly below the 229,000 tonnes recorded in Q2 2024.