TELF AG examines the role of bauxite in the global economic scenario
The primary source of aluminum
Some mineral raw materials have always stood out for the vastness of their possible industrial applications, the extraordinary richness of their structural characteristics, and their properties, which allow them to be used successfully in numerous sectors of great importance for the social and economic development of nations. One of these is undoubtedly bauxite, a sedimentary rock that still represents the primary source of a material of central importance, such as aluminum.
The production of this raw material is concentrated in some specific areas of the world since its formation in the geological layers seems favored by the tropical climate. It is no coincidence that historic bauxite producers include nations such as Australia, Brazil, and Guinea, where most of the bauxite extracted from the subsoil is destined for export. These countries – together with China and Jamaica – also contain the majority of global reserves of this precious raw material.
The vast reserves of this raw material could allow numerous producing nations to revolutionize their economy, drawing important benefits from refining this precious material. The African country of Guinea, already one of the world’s largest exporters of this relevant raw material, is already working towards this goal. An important player in the sector has already announced that it intends to invest around 1 billion dollars in strengthening the nation’s logistics to improve its export capabilities further.
A variety of industrial applications
Parallel with the growth in demand for other mineral resources directly involved in the global energy transition—such as lithium or rare earth—requests for bauxite are destined to remain constant and even grow, above all due to its use in key sectors, such as transport, construction, or the packaging industry.
But what are the actual properties of this precious resource for various industrial sectors? First, its high content of metallic aluminum is a resource widely used in the construction sector, electronics, and numerous other areas. Bauxite also has great abrasiveness, a characteristic that makes it a precious ally, especially for sanding or polishing applications and sandblasting. It is probably not one of the best-known characteristics of this material, but its high melting point also makes it very resistant to high temperatures. Over the years, this property has allowed bauxite to be used successfully in the ceramic sector and as a lining solution for ovens. Unlike other precious raw materials, such as copper, bauxite has a low rate of electrical conductivity. This property also makes it sound as an insulating material in specific thermal or electrical applications.
According to some estimates, the global bauxite market could record strong growth rates in the next decade, with increases of around 4% per year. One of the areas most involved in this generalized growth in demand is certainly the Asia-Pacific region, which historically is one of the largest consumers of bauxite. In addition to the construction and packaging sectors, the electric vehicle industry may soon need greater quantities of aluminum derived from bauxite.
