Minerals and quarrying lead exports in Jamaica up to September 2024

 


 Caribbean Money Daily. The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) reports that earnings from domestic exports for the January to September 2024 review period increased by 3.7 per cent to US$1,209.6 million, due to a 17.0 per cent rise in exports from the Mining and Quarrying industry.

Export earnings from the Mining and Quarrying industry increased by 17.0 per cent to US$500.7 million, up from US$428.0 million for the corresponding period of 2023.

This increase was due to a 25.9 per cent increase in Alumina earnings, which rose to US$447.3 million from US$355.2 million in 2023. However, the value of Bauxite exports declined by 18.5 per cent to US$43.4 million.

Despite this, the Bauxite and Alumina sub-sector still dominates in Traditional Exports, as it has done for decades, particularly over agricultural produce. The sub-sector contributed US$551.5 Million in export earnings in 2023; 68 per cent more than it had in 2022, and 32.3 per cent less than 2019 when the contribution was US$814.2 Million (PIOJ, 2021 and 2024).

 Bauxite is the only metallic mineral currently mined in Jamaica. Approximately 5.99 million tonnes (Mt) were produced in 2023, of which 34 per cent was processed as crude bauxite, and exported from the Discovery Bay mines mostly to the USA, with a small amount (about 80 thousand tonnes; Kt) to China.

The difference of bauxite was converted to 1.4 Mt of alumina at the JAMALCO and WINDALCO (Ewarton) alumina plants. The two alumina plants shipped approximately 1.35 Mt of alumina to various global destinations with JAMALCO accounting for 65 per cent of the exports.

 Between the companies the alumina was exported to Russia (30 per cent), Latvia (21 per cent), Iceland (20 per cent) and Netherlands (10 per cent) mostly for use as smelter grade alumina from which aluminium metal is made. Smaller amounts were also sent to Libya, Ireland, Ghana and Georgia.

 Approximately 74.8 Kt of the alumina produced was exported as alumina hydrate to the USA, Panama and Netherlands for use as specialty alumina in non-metallurgical and chemical industrial purposes.

Limestone is largely consumed in the local Construction Sector where it is crushed to make hard rock aggregate. Whiting (Ground Calcium Carbonate is prepared from limestone having high purity (more than 96 per cent calcium carbonate) and is used in paints, plastics, animal feed, food and
pharmaceuticals.

The production of Whiting showed a sharp increase of 245 Kt in 2023 compared to previous years. This is the highest production over the last decade. It reflects the demand locally, and the increased amounts exported to the USA where one St. Ann-based producer had significantly increased its exports within the western hemisphere according to the Mines Division.

Other exports

Export earnings from the Manufacture industry declined by 3.4 per cent to US$636.9 million.

For ‘Other Manufactured Products’: The export value declined by 5.9 per cent to US$350.4 million, down from US$372.2 million in the same period of 2023. This was largely driven by an 8.0 per cent decrease in exports of Refined Petroleum Product, which totaled US$306.9 million.

For ‘Food, Beverages, and Tobacco’: Earnings decreased to US$286.5 million, down from US$287.0 million in 2023. This decrease was primarily due to lower export values for Rum (US$44.9 million), Ackee (canned) (US$12.3 million), Fish and Fish Products (US$11.6 million) and Meat and Meat Preparations (US$10.6 million).

Earnings from the Agriculture industry decreased by 15.6 per cent to US$58.3 million for the January to September 2024 period, down from US$69.1 million in 2023. This decline was mainly due to reduced exports of Yams, Coffee and Herbs & Spices.

For Yams: Export value fell by 15.1 per cent to US$26.8 million, compared to US$31.6 million in 2023. Coffee: Exports decreased by 32.1 per cent to US$13.3 million, compared to US$19.6 million in 2023.

For Herbs & Spices: Export value declined by 20.8 per cent to US$4.2 million from US$5.3 million for the previous year.

 Photograph: Alcirle.com

Caribbean Money Daily

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