Bauxite resources are estimated to be 55 to 75 billion tons, located in South America (33%), Africa (27%), Asia (17%), Oceania (13%), and elsewhere (10%). Total global production of bauxite in 2003 was 144 Mt constant from 2002. Primary aluminium production capacity for the year 2003 was estimated at 47,409 t. According to the production data from the International Aluminium Institute, world alumina production during the first 2 quarters of 2003 increased 6% compared with that for the same period in 2002. Western world production of primary aluminium in 2003 increased by 3.2% to 17.94 Mt in 2003 compared to 17.37 Mt in 2002.

Since the mid-1970s the trend in the geographical production of alumina has been away from the major metal-consuming and smelting regions towards the major bauxite producing countries and as with bauxite production has become completely concentrated. In 2003 the major producing nations accounted for 76% of Western output compared 65% in 1980 and 70% in 1990. To a considerable extent the growth Western aluminium consumption over the past two decades has relied on the developing countries of Asia.