Oceania is home to diverse economies ranging from highly developed and globally competitive financial markets of Australia, French Polynesia, Hawaii, New Zealand and New Caledonia, ranking distinctly for quality of life and Human Development Index to much less developed economies such as Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Western New Guinea, in addition to medium-sized economies of the Pacific islands such as Fiji, Palau, and Tonga. However, the largest and most populous country in Oceania is Australia, and the largest city is Sydney.
Oceania’s largest country Australia is the world's largest bauxite producer, and the global aluminium industry depends hugely on this region. Australia is the most significant country on this continent, other than that; New Zealand is the next which contributes minimally.
BAUXITE PRODUCTION
In 2020, total bauxite production in the world was around 367 million tonnes, of which Australia alone has produced 102 million tonnes, around 28% of the total production and in 2021the nation produced 110 million tonnes of bauxite. Australia is the biggest contributor of bauxite in the world aluminium industry and it is continuously enhancing its production capacity every year. Having produced about 27 million tonnes in 2019, Alcoa World Alumina’s Huntly bauxite mine near Dwellingup in Western Australia plays a major role in the nation’s bauxite mining industry. Rio Tinto and South32 are other major players in the bauxite production sector and all 3 of these companies are the world’s leading bauxite players. Australia is the home to 5 large bauxite mines, which provide feedstock to 6 alumina refineries, which in turn supply alumina to 4 aluminium smelters in the country and also cater for the export market.
ALUMINA PRODUCTION
There are six alumina refineries in Australia, which produce mainly smelter grade alumina . In 2020, Australia produced 21.2 million tonnes of alumina. Despite its position as the world's second-largest producer and leading exporter of alumina in 2020, Australia exported 18 million tonnes.
This is mainly due to the rise of the Middle East and China while Australia has marginally improved their alumina production capacity but these countries have significantly increased during this period. There are 6 alumina refineries in Australia. Apart from Alcoa of Australia, Rio Tinto and South32, Queensland Alumina Limited also have one refinery in Australia.
PRIMARY ALUMINIUM PRODUCTION
While the continent is significantly contributing in the upstream segment, primary aluminium production contribution is quite down the line. Australia currently has four aluminium smelters that produce primary aluminium. The production in 2020 was 1.59 million tonnes, of which 1.43 million tonnes were exported. Australia is the sixth-largest producer in the world.
The location of smelters tends to be influenced primarily by access to historically low-cost electricity sources. As well as the cost of transport and the availability of other infrastructure, location is also affected by other factors. Most of Australia's aluminium smelters are located along or near the coastline.
EXTRUSIONS
There are few aluminium extruders in Australia and the top 3 aluminium extruders in Australia are Capral Limited, G. James Aluminium Products and Ullrich Aluminium. Apart from them, there are a few other extrusion companies like Almax, Alushapes, Extrusions Australia, etc.
OTHERS
Badger Wire is the last remaining producer of aluminium wire in Australia and is a wholly-owned, Australian-operated producer of bare aluminium, aluminium alloy, copper, and brass engineering wire.
ALUMINIUM COMPANIES IN NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand's Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) is the country’s only aluminium smelter and is located on Tiwai Peninsula, across the harbour from Bluff in Southland. NZAS is 79.36 per cent owned by Rio Tinto and 20.64 per cent owned by Japan's Sumitomo Chemical Company. However, as per the latest development, NZAS functionalization beyond 2024 is still in a very much doubtful stage. The majority owner Rio Tinto is very much sure to shut down the aluminium smelter due to the high energy prices, which has created a dent in the profits of the business, but there is still an ongoing development politically to save the industry.
There are few aluminium extrusion companies in New Zealand. Some of them are – Aluminium Extrusion Company (Alexco), Ullrich Aluminium, Altus Industrial Aluminium, McKechnie Aluminium Solutions Ltd etc.
