Bauxite production drops, but Jamaica's mining industry grows in Q4 2023

The mining sector in Jamaica experienced an approximate 23.6 per cent growth during the final quarter of 2023.

Crude bauxite production in the island nation experienced a notable decline of 27 per cent, leading to a decrease in the bauxite capacity utilization rate to 32.7 per cent, marking a drop of 12.1 percentage points.

Dr Wayne Henry, the Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), stated, "Alumina production grew by 32.9 per cent due to increased capacity utilisation at the Jamalco refinery. The alumina capacity utilisation rate increased to 39 per cent, up 9.6 percentage points compared with the corresponding quarter of 2022."

Dr Henry remarked that this indicated a rise in alumina production.