Calcined bauxite is an important raw material for two main markets: refractories and abrasives. Smaller volumes are consumed in other applications including proppants, welding fluxes, and anti skid surfaces. While the process of calcining bauxite for each of these applications is fundamentally the same (it involves the same basic burning process), the physical and chemical characteristics of each grade vary. Only a handful of countries produce non-metallurgical grade bauxite and not all these sources produce material suitable for certain calcined bauxite applications. Total world reserves of bauxite are estimated at 25m. tonnes. accounts for about 70%.

For refractory grade, there are essentially only two commercial world sources: China and Guyana. Consumers have a wider choice when it comes to sourcing raw non-metallurgical bauxite for abrasive and proppant applications: Guinea, Australia, China, and Brazil. For welding grade, consumers can choose between Brazil, Guyana and China