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The U.S. aluminum industry is the world's largest, producing about $28 billion in products and exports annually. U.S. companies are the largest single producer of primary aluminum (aluminum made from bauxite ore). The U.S. industry produces more than 22 billion pounds of primary and secondary (made from recycled metal) metal annually [AA 2001] and employs over 76,000 people with an annual payroll of $3.1 billion. [DOC 2001] There are 23 primary aluminum smelting facilities in the United States, operated by a dozen companies. [DOE 1997] The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the primary aluminum smelting industry is NAICS 331312. Secondary aluminum smelting is grouped under NAICS 331314; rolling, drawing, and extrusion of aluminum are grouped under several six-digit NAICS codes within NAICS 3313 (Aluminum and Alumina production and processing). Economic Profile and TrendsShipments from domestic aluminum producers total about $28 billion annually. Energy Consumption The aluminum industry spends more than $2.3 billion annually on energy, the majority of which is for electricity. State-Level Information The majority of U.S. primary aluminum producers are located either in the Pacific Northwest or the Ohio River Valley. Technologies and Equipment Primary aluminum is produced from alumina (extracted from bauxite ore) in electrolytic cells, while scrap metal is melted in furnaces to produce secondary aluminum. Energy-Management Activities Over half of aluminum industry facilities conduct energy-management activities. Sources
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Aluminum is widely used throughout the U.S. economy, particularly in the transportation, packaging, and construction industries. As a lightweight, high-strength, and recyclable structural metal, aluminum has and will continue to play an important role in a healthy economy as applications are extended in the infrastructure, aerospace, and defense industries.