India's Alumina Trade Surplus Widens to 1.72 Million Tons in H1

en.Wedoany.com Reported - In the first half of 2026, India's alumina exports increased to approximately 2.5 million tons, up 51.3% year-on-year; over the same period, imports fell to approximately 775,000 tons, down 34.9% year-on-year. These changes in exports and imports expanded India's alumina trade surplus to approximately 1.72 million tons, compared with around 460,000 tons in the same period of 2025, an increase of nearly threefold. The relevant statistical scope is HS 281820, which covers alumina other than artificial corundum.

On the export side, Oman remained one of India's primary alumina destinations, importing approximately 461,000 tons of Indian alumina in the first half of the year. Russia's imports increased from approximately 63,000 tons in the same period last year to 403,000 tons, while China's rose from approximately 385 tons to 189,000 tons. Malaysia's imports also increased to approximately 93,000 tons. Meanwhile, India's alumina exports to the UAE and Egypt declined to approximately 30,000 tons and 31,000 tons, respectively.

On the import side, India imported approximately 499,000 tons of alumina from Indonesia in the first half of the year, which remained the largest source of supply, though lower than the 534,000 tons recorded in the same period of 2025. Supply from Australia fell from approximately 198,000 tons to 93,000 tons, from Vietnam from approximately 122,000 tons to 84,000 tons, and from China from approximately 71,000 tons to 56,000 tons; meanwhile, supply from Saudi Arabia increased from approximately 4,000 tons to 27,000 tons.

Looking at quarterly data, India's alumina exports rose steadily from approximately 459,000 tons in Q2 2024 to approximately 888,000 tons in Q2 2025, and further reached approximately 1.24 million tons in Q2 2026. India's government trade database has now been updated through June 2026, providing a complete statistical cycle for the changes in exports and imports during the first half of the year.