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AU ANZSIC C2131 | Industry Report

Alumina Production in Australia Industry Data and Analysis

AS
Aishni Singh
Analyst Melbourne, Australia December 2025

Australia is the world's largest bauxite producer and alumina exporter. Alumina is made by applying the Bayer process to bauxite. It can then be further refined into aluminium. The Alumina Production industry is highly concentrated and has only three major players: Alcoa, Rio Tinto and South32. Each firm is vertically integrated, with upstream bauxite mining and downstream aluminium smelting operations. The industry has displayed volatility over the past few years due to production disruptions, fluctuating prices, labour shortages and erratic purchase costs. Although domestic smelters account for a significant portion of demand, most of the alumina produced in Australia is exported. Exports are anticipated to account for over 85% of industry revenue in 2025-26. This leaves the industry reliant on global markets to drive performance.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Alumina Production industry in Australia includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released December 2025.

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Alumina Production industry in Australia operates under the ANZSIC industry code C2131. Industry firms refine bauxite into alumina (or aluminium oxide), a process that is also referred to as bauxite refining. Alumina is used to produce aluminium. Related terms covered in the Alumina Production industry in Australia include alumina, aluminium, bauxite, chemical-grade alumina and bayer process.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Alumina Production industry in Australia include Metallurgical-grade alumina and Chemical-grade alumina.

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Alumina Production industry in Australia include Alcoa of Australia, Rio Tinto Limited and South32.

Performance

What's included in the Performance chapter?

The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Alumina Production industry in Australia.

Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.

Products & Markets

What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?

The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Alumina Production industry in Australia.

Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.

Geographic Breakdown

What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?

The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Alumina Production industry in Australia.

Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.

Competitive Forces

What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?

The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Alumina Production industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.

Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.

Companies

What's included in the Companies chapter?

The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Alumina Production industry in Australia. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.

Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.

External Environment

What's included in the External Environment chapter?

The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Alumina Production industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.

Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.

Financial Benchmarks

What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?

The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Alumina Production industry in Australia. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.

Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.

Industry Data

What's included in the Industry Data chapter?

The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Alumina Production industry in Australia.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Alumina Production industry in Australia in 2026?

The market size of the Alumina Production industry in Australia is $7.3bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Alumina Production industry in Australia in 2025?

There are 3 businesses in the Alumina Production industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Alumina Production industry in Australia?

The Alumina Production industry in Australia is likely to be impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Alumina Production industry in Australia?

The Alumina Production industry in Australia is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

Has the Alumina Production industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Alumina Production industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Alumina Production industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Alumina Production industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Alumina Production industry in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Alumina Production industry in Australia are Alcoa of Australia, Rio Tinto Limited and South32

What does the Alumina Production industry in Australia include?

Metallurgical-grade alumina manufacturing and Chemical-grade alumina manufacturing are part of the Alumina Production industry in Australia.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Alumina Production industry in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in the Alumina Production industry in Australia is Alcoa of Australia.

How competitive is the Alumina Production industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Alumina Production industry in Australia.

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