ABSTRACT
Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust and the third most abundant of all elements, coming after oxygen and silicon. It is a relatively new metal, isolated only in the first quarter of the nineteenth century by a Danish chemist. Aluminium alloys are also very versatile, offering hardness, corrosion resistance and the advantage of reduced weight in advanced applications. They are used in the defence industry, especially as armour plate for tanks, personnel carriers, and other military vehicles. The world's largest exporters are Indonesia, Guinea, Australia, Brazil and Jamaica. In recent years, Indonesia made a considerable impact on the export market, driven by the fast-rising import demand from China. Bauxite and alumina constitute the biggest of the minor bulk commodities carried by sea, providing considerable employment for the world's Panamax-sized fleet. Seaborne trade in bauxite and alumina has followed closely the development of the industry through the 1980s.
