Our industry is recognized as a world-class model of sustainable prosperity

The Canadian primary aluminium industry ranks 4th in the world with an annual production of 3.3 million tons of primary aluminium, and has one of the lowest carbon footprint in the world. Alcoa, Aluminerie Alouette and Rio Tinto operate 9 plants in Canada (8 plants in Quebec and 1 plant in British Columbia). The industry supports over 9,500 jobs in Canada, generating exports of over C$10.8 billion.

Aluminium smelters in Canada

3 producers - 9 plants

3 plants

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1 plant

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5 plants

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Rio Tinto

Alma Smelter

Anual production capacity: 473,000 tons

Products: foundry alloys, rods, sows and remelt T ingots

Alouette

Alouette Smelter

Anual production capacity: + 620,000 tons

Products: gueuses

Alcoa

Baie-Comeau Smelter

Anual production capacity: 312,000 tons

Products: Rolling plates

Alcoa

Deschambault Smelter

Anual production capacity: 287,000 tons

Products: T-shaped ingots

Rio Tinto

Aluminerie Arvida-AP60

Anual production capacity: 234,000 tons

Products: billets and ingots in T remelt

Rio Tinto

Grande Baie Smelter

Anual production capacity: 233,000 tons

Products: plates (rolling ingots) remelting ingots

Rio Tinto

Laterrière Smelter

Anual production capacity: 257,000 tons

Products: plates (rolling ingots)

Alcoa

Bécancour Smelter

Anual production capacity: 462,000 tons

Products: T-ingots, plates, billets

Rio Tinto

Kitimat Smelter

Anual production capacity: 432,000 tons

Products: plates (rolling ingots), foundry ingots, remelting ingots and sows

Portrait of the Canadian aluminium industry

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3 producers

9 smelters

3.3 million tons

annual production

3.1%

global demand growth 2020-2025

2 mt eq. CO₂/mt AI

among the lowest carbon footprint in the world

96%

hydroelectric energy

4^th

world producer of aluminium

1^st

aluminium exporter in the world

80%

of primary aluminium production in North Amercia

$4 B/year

local spending in Quebec

11.5%

value of Quebec manufacturing exports

3.7%

Quebec manufacturing payroll

5.5%

of Quebec manufactured deliveries

$10.8 B/year

total exports of primary aluminium

93%

exports of primary aluminium to the United States

1^st

Quebec export product

It’s also more than:

9,500

jobs in Canada

7,600

jobs in Quebec

15,000

retirees in Canada

4,000

jobs in the equipment sector in Quebec

30,000

jobs in the processing sector in Quebec

20,000

indirect jobs in Canada

2,400

suppliers in Quebec

1,700

manufacturers in Quebec

Innovation and R&D

The industry is recognized worldwide for its R&D activities and achievements, which is at the very heart of performance. On an ongoing basis, R&D initiatives continue each year within member companies to develop new technologies that are more efficient and effective from an operational and environmental standpoint and maintain their position as world leaders.

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Aluminium, a critical material and a common thread for decarbonizing North America

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International trade

Canadian primary aluminum, a strategic metal, is at the origin of a large North American industrial chain at the heart of international trade and world geopolitics.

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Over 100 Years of History in Canada

The aluminum industry in Canada was born in 1901 and has grown rapidly ever since. Its history is closely linked to that of certain regions. The Centre-du-Québec, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord regions of Quebec, as well as the Kitimat region of British Columbia, owe much of their rapid social and economic development to the construction of aluminum smelters.

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