The world's biggest primary aluminum producers ranked by estimated 2025 smelter output, from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026.
China is the world's largest primary aluminum producer, with an estimated 45,000 thousand tonnes of primary aluminum smelted in 2025, about 61% of the world total. India is second at 4,200 thousand tonnes and Russia third at 3,900 thousand tonnes. The ranking uses USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 estimates of 2025 smelter production.
Primary aluminum is metal made fresh in smelters, as opposed to aluminum recovered from scrap. The U.S. Geological Survey puts world smelter production at about 74 million tonnes in 2025, up from 72.8 million tonnes in 2024, and one country accounts for most of it. This list ranks countries by how much primary aluminum their smelters produced, using the USGS annual Mineral Commodity Summaries. It is for readers who want the plain numbers behind headlines about aluminum supply, tariffs and prices.
China smelted an estimated 45,000 thousand tonnes of primary aluminum in 2025, about 61% of the world total and more than ten times second-place India. Output rose from 44,000 thousand tonnes in 2024 and matched its estimated yearend capacity of 45,000.
India produced an estimated 4,200 thousand tonnes in 2025, unchanged from its estimated 2024 output, with production equal to its listed capacity of 4,200 thousand tonnes.
Russia smelted an estimated 3,900 thousand tonnes in 2025, up slightly from 3,880 thousand tonnes in 2024, against yearend capacity of 4,080 thousand tonnes.
Canada produced an estimated 3,300 thousand tonnes in 2025, slightly below 3,320 thousand tonnes in 2024. It was the source of 56% of U.S. aluminum imports in 2021-24, per USGS.
The United Arab Emirates smelted an estimated 2,700 thousand tonnes in 2025, up from 2,690 thousand tonnes in 2024, with yearend capacity of 2,790 thousand tonnes.
Bahrain produced an estimated 1,600 thousand tonnes in 2025, down slightly from 1,620 thousand tonnes in 2024, which equaled its listed capacity.
Australia smelted an estimated 1,500 thousand tonnes in 2025, down from 1,570 thousand tonnes in 2024, below its yearend capacity of 1,730 thousand tonnes.
Norway produced an estimated 1,300 thousand tonnes in 2025, the same as its estimated 2024 output, against capacity of 1,460 thousand tonnes.
Brazil smelted an estimated 1,200 thousand tonnes in 2025, up from an estimated 1,100 thousand tonnes in 2024, with yearend capacity of 1,280 thousand tonnes.
Malaysia produced an estimated 1,100 thousand tonnes in 2025, up from an estimated 1,050 thousand tonnes in 2024, a figure USGS revised significantly in this edition. Iceland, at 750, is next.
| # | Name | 2024 output (kt) | Share of world 2025 | Yearend capacity 2025 (kt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 44000 | 60.8% | 45000 |
| 2 | India | 4200 | 5.7% | 4200 |
| 3 | Russia | 3880 | 5.3% | 4080 |
| 4 | Canada | 3320 | 4.5% | 3310 |
| 5 | United Arab Emirates | 2690 | 3.6% | 2790 |
| 6 | Bahrain | 1620 | 2.2% | 1620 |
| 7 | Australia | 1570 | 2.0% | 1730 |
| 8 | Norway | 1300 | 1.8% | 1460 |
| 9 | Brazil | 1100 | 1.6% | 1280 |
| 10 | Malaysia | 1050 | 1.5% | 1080 |
Ranked by estimated 2025 smelter (primary aluminum) production, in thousand metric tons, as published in the World Smelter Production and Capacity table of the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (February 2026) aluminum chapter. Smelter production counts primary metal only, not secondary aluminum recovered from scrap. Share of world uses the USGS rounded world total of 74,000 thousand tonnes for 2025. Yearend capacity is the USGS 2025 estimate from the same table. Only countries USGS reports individually are ranked; the 'other countries' group (7,000 thousand tonnes combined) is excluded. USGS lists 12 countries individually; Iceland (750) and the United States (660) fall outside the top 10. There are no ties in the 2025 figures. 2025 figures are USGS estimates and may be revised; the 2024 figures for Brazil, India, Malaysia and Norway are also marked as estimates.
China, by primary (smelter) output, with an estimated 45,000 thousand tonnes of primary aluminum smelted in 2025, about 61% of the USGS world total of 74,000 thousand tonnes.
Outside the top 10. U.S. smelters produced an estimated 660 thousand tonnes of primary aluminum in 2025, down from 676 thousand tonnes in 2024, the lowest of the 12 countries USGS lists individually. U.S. smelter capacity was 1,310 thousand tonnes.
About 74,000 thousand tonnes of primary aluminum in 2025, up from 72,800 thousand tonnes in 2024, per USGS estimates. World yearend smelter capacity was an estimated 79,700 thousand tonnes in 2025.
No. The ranking counts primary aluminum from smelters only. Secondary aluminum recovered from scrap is not included.
No. The 2025 numbers are USGS estimates published in February 2026 and may be revised.