TOP 10 : Iceland

Aluminum production: 750,000 tons
 
Iceland's aluminum production totaled 750,000 tons in 2022, the same as the previous year.
 
Arctus Metals, in collaboration with the Icelandic Innovation Center, has developed a new aluminum production technology designed to eliminate CO2 emissions from the production process. The company has successfully produced aluminum with this new method, which releases oxygen instead of producing CO2 emissions.
 
Century Aluminum's subsidiary Nordural Grundartangi, another aluminum producer in Iceland, signed a letter of intent with green technology company Ocean GeoLoop in 2022 to deploy its carbon capture technology at Nordual's Grundartangi plant, making it carbon-neutral.

TOP 9 : United States

Aluminum production: 860,000 tons
 
The U.S. aluminum industry is still recovering from a drop from 1.59 million tons in 2015 to 741,000 tons in 2017. The country produces 860,000 tons of the metal in 2022, down from 889,000 tons in 2021. Three companies operate six primary aluminum smelters in five states, two of which were operating at full capacity in 2022, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Four smelters are currently operating at reduced capacity, with one on standby in June.
 
Aluminum applications in the transportation sector account for 35% of aluminum use in the United States by 2022. Packaging and construction sectors round out the top three domestic uses with 23% and 16% of consumption, respectively.

TOP 8 : Norway

Aluminum production: 1.4 million tons
 
Aluminum production in Norway remained unchanged in 2022, matching the previous year's production of 1.4 million tons. Norway and Iceland are the largest exporters of primary aluminum in the European Union.
 
Norsk Hydro is a Norwegian aluminum and renewable energy company with a number of aluminum projects and plants in the country, as well as in Germany and Brazil. Hydro operates Europe's largest primary aluminum plant in Sandal. According to the company, its pilot plant in Karmøy, Norway, uses the world's most energy-efficient aluminum production technology.  

TOP 7 : Australia

Aluminum production: 1.5 million tonnes
 
Australia's aluminum production fell slightly in 2022, to 1.5 million tonnes from 1.57 million tonnes the previous year. In addition to being a major aluminum producer in Canada, Rio Tinto also produces the industrial metal in Australia. The mining major sees aluminum as a valuable resource for the emerging automotive industry.
 
However, Australia's aluminum market has struggled for years under the weight of heavy energy costs associated with smelter operations. "Australia is one of the most emissions-intensive aluminum producers in the world," said the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. Renewable energy could be the answer to saving the country's aluminum industry.

TOP 6 : Bahrain

Aluminum production: 1.6 million tonnes
 
Bahrain's aluminum production increased slightly from 1.56 million tonnes in 2021 to 1.6 million tonnes in 2022, but still exceeded Australia. The aluminum industry is one of the Middle Eastern country's largest export earners.
 
In 2019, Bahrain Aluminum expanded its production capacity and now operates the world's largest single-site aluminum smelter. The increased capacity is a boon to the country's important local downstream aluminum products industry.

TOP 5 : United Arab Emirates

Aluminum production: 2.7 million tons
 
Fifth on this list of aluminum producing countries is the United Arab Emirates. The UAE's aluminum production has remained stable over the past few years, increasing from 2.54 million tons in 2021 to 2.7 million tons in 2022.
 
Emirates Global Aluminum is the largest aluminum producer in the Middle East, contributing nearly 4% of the world's aluminum. In 2022, aluminum from the UAE accounted for 9% of U.S. aluminum imports.

TOP 4 : Canada

Aluminum production: 3 million tons
 
In 2022, Canada's aluminum production will only slightly decrease from the previous year, at 3 million tons in 2022, compared to 3.14 million tons in 2021. Rio Tinto is another leading global aluminum producer, with about 16 operations in the country.
 
Quebec is Canada's main aluminum jurisdiction. There are 10 primary aluminum smelters in Canada, nine of which are located in Quebec. The last one is in British Columbia. There is also an alumina refinery in Quebec.
 
In 2022, Canada once again became the main supplier of aluminum imports to the United States, accounting for half of all imported aluminum.

TOP 3 : Russia

Aluminum production: 3.7 million tons
 
In 2022, Russia produced 3.7 million tons of aluminum, slightly higher than 3.64 million tons in 2021. Rusal, the world's leading aluminum producer, is headquartered in Moscow.

TOP 2 : India

Aluminum production: 4 million tons
 
India is another aluminum producer that has seen consistent growth in recent years. In 2021, India’s production reached 3.97 million tons, surpassing Russia. In 2022, India’s aluminum production increased again, albeit modestly, to 4 million tons.
 
Hindalco is the world’s leading aluminum rolling company, headquartered in Mumbai. Concerns that India’s exports could be affected by a ban or restriction on imports of scrap aluminum from China had previously weighed on Indian stocks. However, the Chinese government lifted the import ban in late 2020.
 
Vedanta, India’s largest aluminum producer, believes that India’s aluminum production could reach 5 million tons by 2026 or 2027.

TOP 1 : China

Aluminum production: 40 million tons
 
Topping this list of aluminum producers is China. As the world's leading aluminum producer, China once again accounted for more than half of global aluminum production in 2022, reaching 40 million tons. China also consumes a considerable amount of aluminum.
 
According to Statista, China's aluminum production has experienced a continuous increase in annual output over the past decade. According to Reuters, China's aluminum production increased to a record high in 2022, driven by new production capacity and the easing of power supply restrictions.