Alcoa Earnings 2020-12-31

Balance Sheet	Income Statement	Cash Flow
Assets, Equity	Rev, G Profit, Net Income	Ops, Inv, Fin

aa-10k_20201231.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

☒	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For The Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2020

☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _______ to _______

Commission File Number 1-37816

ALCOA CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware		81-1789115
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

201 Isabella Street, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Address of Principal Executive Offices)		15212-5858 (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 412-315-2900

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	AA	New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes ☐ No ☑

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☑ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☑

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☑

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting stock held by non-affiliates at June 30, 2020 was approximately $2.1 billion, based on the closing price per share of Common Stock on June 30, 2020 of $11.24 as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

As of February 19, 2021, there was 186,251,518 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.

Documents incorporated by reference.

Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain information from the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page(s)
Part I
Item 1.	Business		1
Item 1A.	Risk Factors		18
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments		30
Item 2.	Properties		30
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings		30
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures		31
Part II
Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities		32
Item 6.	Selected Financial Data		35
Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		36
Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		56
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data		57
Item 8A.	Supplemental Financial Information		116
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure		117
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures		117
Item 9B.	Other Information		117
Part III
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance		118
Item 11.	Executive Compensation		118
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters		118
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence		118
Item 14.	Principal Accounting Fees and Services		118
Part IV
Item 15.	Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules		119
Item 16.	Form 10-K Summary		122
	Signatures		123

Note on Incorporation by Reference

In this Form 10-K, selected items of information and data are incorporated by reference to portions of Alcoa Corporation’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (Proxy Statement), which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of Alcoa Corporation’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Unless otherwise provided herein, any reference in this Form 10-K to disclosures in the Proxy Statement shall constitute incorporation by reference of only that specific disclosure into this Form 10-K.

PART I

Item 1. Business.

(dollars in millions, except per-share amounts, average realized prices, and average cost amounts)

The Company

Alcoa Corporation, a Delaware corporation, became an independent, publicly traded company on November 1, 2016, following its separation from (the Separation Transaction) its former parent company, Alcoa Inc. (ParentCo). “Regular-way” trading of Alcoa Corporation’s common stock began with the opening of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on November 1, 2016 under the ticker symbol “AA.” Alcoa Corporation’s common stock has a par value of $0.01 per share. Alcoa Corporation’s principal executive office is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In this report, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Alcoa,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Alcoa Corporation and all subsidiaries consolidated for the purposes of its financial statements.

References herein to “ParentCo” refer to Alcoa Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries through October 31, 2016, at which time it was renamed Arconic Inc. (Arconic) and since has been subsequently renamed Howmet Aerospace Inc.

Alcoa Corporation (previously known as Alcoa Upstream Corporation) was formed in Delaware in March 2016 for the purpose of holding ParentCo’s Bauxite, Alumina, Aluminum, Cast Products and Energy businesses, as well as ParentCo’s rolling mill operations in Warrick, Indiana, and 25.1% interest in the Ma’aden Rolling Company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia). Alcoa Upstream Corporation was renamed Alcoa Corporation in connection with the Separation Transaction. Alcoa Corporation entered into certain agreements with ParentCo to implement the legal and structural separation between the two companies to govern the relationship between Alcoa Corporation and ParentCo after the completion of the Separation Transaction and allocate between Alcoa Corporation and ParentCo various assets, liabilities and obligations, including, among other things, employee benefits, environmental liabilities, intellectual property, and tax-related assets and liabilities.

Alcoa is a global industry leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminum products. The Company is built on a foundation of strong values and operating excellence dating back over 130 years to the world-changing discovery that made aluminum an affordable and vital part of modern life. Since developing the aluminum industry, and throughout our history, our talented Alcoans have followed on with breakthrough innovations and best practices that have led to efficiency, safety, sustainability, and stronger communities wherever we operate.

Alcoa is a global company with direct and indirect ownership of 28 operating locations across nine countries. The Company’s operations consist of three reportable business segments: Bauxite, Alumina, and Aluminum. The Bauxite and Alumina segments primarily consist of a series of affiliated operating entities held in Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals, a global, unincorporated joint venture between Alcoa and Alumina Limited (described below). The Aluminum segment consists of the Company’s aluminum smelting, casting, and rolling businesses, along with the majority of the energy production business.

Aluminum, as an element, is abundant in the earth’s crust, but a multi-step process is required to make aluminum metal. Aluminum metal is produced by refining alumina oxide from bauxite into alumina, which is then smelted into aluminum and can be cast and rolled into many shapes and forms. Aluminum is a commodity traded on the London Metal Exchange (LME) and priced daily. Alumina, an intermediary product, is subject to market pricing through the Alumina Price Index (API). As a result, the prices of both aluminum and alumina are subject to significant volatility and, therefore, influence the operating results of Alcoa.

Business Strategy

In October 2019, the Company announced several strategic actions to drive lower costs and sustainable profitability. These announced actions included a new operating model, realigning the operating portfolio over the following five years through a review of 1.5 million metric tons of smelting capacity and 4 million metric tons of refining capacity, and the sale of non-core assets over the following twelve to eighteen month period with the goal of generating $500 to $1,000. After the portfolio transformation, the Company expects to be the lowest emitter of carbon dioxide among all global aluminum companies, per ton of emissions in both smelting and refining, and aims to move its aluminum portfolio to a first quartile cost position. In addition, Alcoa anticipates that up to 85 percent of its smelting portfolio will be powered by renewable energy, building upon the Company’s existing sustainability profile and in support of its strategic priority to “advance sustainably.”

The new operating model, effective November 1, 2019, resulted in a leaner, more integrated, operator-centric organization. With a streamlined executive team which eliminated the business unit structure, the model increased connectivity between

the Company’s operations and leadership, consolidated sales, procurement and other commercial capabilities at an enterprise level, and reduced overhead. The Company realized $60 in annual savings beginning in the second quarter of 2020.

For the portfolio review, the Company placed 1.5 million metric tons of aluminum smelting capacity and 4 million metric tons of alumina refining capacity under review, considering opportunities for significant improvement, potential curtailments, closures, or divestitures. In 2020, the Company progressed its review of smelting and refining production capacity. See Part II Item 7 of this Form 10-K in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations under caption Business Update.

The Company met the target range for our non-core asset sales through the sale of our hazardous waste treatment business in Gum Springs, Arkansas that closed in January 2020 and our announced agreement to sell our Warrick rolling mill business in a sale expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.

The Company’s strategic priority to “advance sustainably” includes maintaining the Company’s social license to operate, reducing risks and improving profitability through product differentiation. In 2020, the Company launched the world’s first low-carbon alumina brand, achieved Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certification for additional operating assets, and obtained ASI’s Chain of Custody certification for marketing our products.

Joint Ventures

Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC)

AWAC is an unincorporated global joint venture between Alcoa Corporation and Alumina Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. AWAC consists of a number of affiliated entities that own, operate or have an interest in bauxite mines and alumina refineries, as well as an aluminum smelter, in seven countries. Alcoa Corporation owns 60% and Alumina Limited owns 40% of these entities, directly or indirectly, with such entities being consolidated by Alcoa Corporation for financial reporting purposes. The scope of AWAC generally includes the mining of bauxite and other aluminous ores; the refining, production, and sale of smelter grade and non-metallurgical alumina; and the production of certain primary aluminum products.

Alcoa provides the operating management for AWAC, which is subject to direction provided by the Strategic Council of AWAC. The Strategic Council consists of five members, three of whom are appointed by Alcoa (of which one is the Chair), and two of whom are appointed by Alumina Limited (of which one is the Deputy Chair). Matters are decided by a majority vote with certain matters requiring approval by at least 80% of the members, including: changes to the scope of AWAC; changes in the dividend policy; equity calls in aggregate greater than $1,000 in any year; sales of all or a majority of the AWAC assets; loans from AWAC companies to Alcoa or Alumina Limited; certain acquisitions, divestitures, expansions, curtailments or closures; certain related-party transactions; financial derivatives, hedges or swap transactions; a decision by AWAC entities to file for insolvency; and changes to pricing formula in certain offtake agreements which may be entered into between AWAC entities and Alcoa or Alumina Limited.

AWAC Operations

AWAC entities’ assets include the following interests:

•

100% of the bauxite mining, alumina refining, and aluminum smelting operations of Alcoa’s affiliate, Alcoa of Australia Limited (AofA);

•

100% of the Juruti bauxite deposit and mine in Brazil;

•

45% interest in Halco (Mining) Inc., a bauxite consortium that owns a 51% interest in Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG), a bauxite mine in Guinea;

•

9.62% interest in the bauxite mining operations in Brazil of Mineração Rio Do Norte (MRN), a Brazilian company;

•

39.96% interest in the São Luís refinery in Brazil;

•

55% interest in the Portland, Australia smelter that AWAC manages on behalf of the joint venture partners;

•

25.1% interest in the mine and refinery in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia;

•

100% of the refinery and alumina-based chemicals assets at San Ciprián, Spain;

•

100% interest in various assets formerly used for mining and refining in the Republic of Suriname (Suriname);

•

100% of the refinery assets at the closed facility in Point Comfort, Texas, United States; and

•

100% of Alcoa Steamship Company Inc., a company that procures ocean freight and commercial shipping services for Alcoa in the ordinary course of business.

Exclusivity

Under the terms of their joint venture agreements, Alcoa and Alumina Limited have agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, AWAC is their exclusive vehicle for their investments, operations or participation in the bauxite and alumina business, and they will not compete with AWAC in those businesses. In the event of a change of control of either Alcoa or Alumina Limited, this exclusivity and non-compete restriction will terminate, and the partners will then have opportunities to unilaterally pursue bauxite or alumina projects outside of or within AWAC, subject to certain conditions provided in the Amended and Restated Charter of the Strategic Council.

Equity Calls

The cash flow of AWAC and borrowings are the preferred sources of funding for the needs of AWAC. An equity call can be made on 30 days’ notice, subject to certain limitations, in the event the aggregate annual capital budget of AWAC requires an equity contribution from Alcoa and Alumina Limited.

Dividend Policy

AWAC will generally be required to distribute at least 50% of the prior calendar quarter’s net income of each AWAC entity, and certain AWAC entities will also be required to pay a distribution every three months equal to the amount of available cash above specified thresholds and subject to the forecast cash needs of the AWAC entity.

Leveraging Policy

Debt of AWAC is subject to a limit of 30% of total capital (defined as the sum of debt (net of cash) plus any minority interest plus shareholder equity). The AWAC joint venture has raised a limited amount of debt to fund growth projects as permitted under Alcoa’s revolving credit line, and in accordance with the joint venture partnership agreements.

Saudi Arabia Joint Venture

In December 2009, Alcoa entered into a joint venture with the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), which was formed by the government of Saudi Arabia to develop its mineral resources and create a fully integrated aluminum complex in Saudi Arabia. Ma’aden is listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul). The complex includes a bauxite mine with a capacity of 4 million dry metric tons per year; an alumina refinery with a capacity of 1.8 million metric tons per year (mtpy); an aluminum smelter with a capacity of ingot, slab and billet of 740,000 mtpy; and a rolling mill with a capacity of 460,000 mtpy.

The joint venture is currently comprised of two entities: the Ma’aden Bauxite and Alumina Company (MBAC) and the Ma’aden Aluminium Company (MAC). Ma’aden owns a 74.9% interest in the MBAC and MAC joint venture. Alcoa owns a 25.1% interest in MAC, which holds the smelter; AWAC holds a 25.1% interest in MBAC, which holds the mine and refinery. In June 2019, the joint venture agreement was amended, transferring Alcoa’s 25.1% interest in the Ma’aden Rolling Company (MRC), which was previously part of the joint venture, to Ma’aden, among other things. See Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K in Note C to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The refinery and smelter are located within the Ras Al Khair industrial zone on the east coast of Saudi Arabia.

Ma’aden and Alcoa Corporation have put and call options, respectively, whereby Ma’aden can require Alcoa Corporation to purchase from Ma’aden, or Alcoa Corporation can require Ma’aden to sell to Alcoa Corporation, a 14.9% interest in MBAC and MAC at the then fair market value. These options, if exercised, must be exercised for the full 14.9% interest in both entities. The amended joint venture agreement defines October 1, 2021 as the date after which Ma’aden and Alcoa Corporation can exercise their put and call options, respectively. The amended joint venture agreement further outlines that these options are exercisable for a period of six months after October 1, 2021.

The amended joint venture agreement also defines October 1, 2021 as the date after which Alcoa Corporation is permitted to sell all of its shares in both MBAC and MAC collectively, for which Ma’aden has a right of first refusal. Prior to this date, Ma’aden and Alcoa Corporation may not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, pledge, or encumber any interests in the joint venture. Under the amended joint venture agreement, upon the occurrence of an unremedied event of default by Alcoa Corporation, Ma’aden may purchase, or, upon the occurrence of an unremedied event of default by Ma’aden, Alcoa Corporation may sell, its interest in the joint venture for consideration that varies depending on the time of the default.

Others

The Company is party to several other joint ventures and consortia. See additional details within each business segment discussion below.

The Aluminerie de Bécancour Inc. (ABI) smelter is a joint venture between Alcoa and Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. (Rio Tinto) located in Bécancour, Québec. Alcoa owns 74.95% of the joint venture through the equity investment in Pechiney Reynolds

Quebec, Inc., which owns a 50.1% share of the smelter, and two wholly-owned Canadian subsidiaries, which own 49.9% of the smelter. Rio Tinto owns the remaining 25.05% interest in the joint venture.

CBG is a joint venture between Boké Investment Company (51%) and the Government of Guinea (49%) for the operation of a bauxite mine in the Boké region of Guinea. Boké Investment Company is owned 100% by Halco (Mining) Inc.; AWA LLC holds a 45% interest in Halco. AWA LLC is part of the AWAC group of companies and is ultimately owned 60% by Alcoa and 40% by Alumina Limited.

MRN is a joint venture between Alcoa Alumínio (8.58%), AWA Brasil (4.62%) and AWA LLC (5%), each a subsidiary of Alcoa, and affiliates of Rio Tinto (12%), Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (10%), Vale S.A. (Vale) (40%), South32 (14.8%), and Norsk Hydro (5%) for the operation of a bauxite mine in Porto Trombetas in the state of Pará in Brazil. AWA Brasil and AWA LLC are part of the AWAC group of companies and are ultimately owned 60% by Alcoa and 40% by Alumina Limited.

Alumar is a joint venture for the operation of a refinery, smelter, and casthouse in Brazil. The refinery is owned by AWA Brasil (39.96%), Rio Tinto (10%), Alcoa Alumínio (14.04%), and South32 (36%). AWA Brasil is part of the AWAC group of companies and is ultimately owned 60% by Alcoa and 40% by Alumina Limited. With respect to Rio Tinto and South32, the named company or an affiliate thereof holds the interest. The smelter and casthouse are owned by Alcoa Alumínio (60%) and South32 (40%).

Elysis^TM Limited Partnership (Elysis^TM) is a joint venture between the wholly-owned subsidiaries of Alcoa (48.235%) and Rio Tinto (48.235%), respectively, and Investissement Québec (3.53%), a company wholly-owned by the Government of Québec, Canada. The purpose of Elysis^TM is to advance larger scale development and commercialization of its patent-protected technology that produces oxygen and eliminates all direct greenhouse gas emissions from the traditional aluminum smelting process.

Strathcona calciner is a joint venture between affiliates of Alcoa and Rio Tinto. The calciner purchases green coke from the petroleum industry and converts it into calcined coke. The calcined coke is then used as a raw material in an aluminum smelter. Alcoa owns 39% of the joint venture, and Rio Tinto owns the remaining 61% of the joint venture.

Hydropower

Machadinho Hydro Power Plant (HPP) is a consortium located on the Pelotas River in southern Brazil in which the Company has a 25.8% ownership interest through Alcoa Alumínio. The remaining ownership interests are held by unrelated third parties.

Barra Grande HPP is a joint venture located on the Pelotas River in southern Brazil in which the Company has a 42.2% ownership interest through Alcoa Alumínio. The remaining ownership interests are held by unrelated third parties.

Estreito HPP is a consortium between Alcoa Alumínio, through Estreito Energia S.A. (25.5%) and unrelated third parties located on the Tocantins River, northern Brazil.

Serra do Facão HPP is a joint venture between Alcoa Alumínio (34.9%) and unrelated third parties located on the Sao Marcos River, central Brazil.

Manicouagan Power Limited Partnership (Manicouagan) is a joint venture between affiliates of Alcoa and Hydro-Québec. Manicouagan owns and operates the 335 megawatt McCormick hydroelectric project, which is located on the Manicouagan River in the Province of Québec, Canada. Alcoa owns 40% of the joint venture.

Bauxite

This segment consists of the Company’s global bauxite mining operations. Bauxite is the principal raw material used to produce alumina and contains various aluminum hydroxide minerals, the most important of which are gibbsite and boehmite. Bauxite is refined using the Bayer process, the principal industrial chemical process for refining bauxite to produce alumina, a compound of aluminum and oxygen that is the raw material used by smelters to produce aluminum metal. Bauxite is Alcoa’s basic raw material input for its alumina refining process. The Company obtains bauxite from its own resources and from those belonging to AWAC, located in the countries listed in the table below, as well as pursuant to both long-term and short-term contracts and mining leases. Tons of bauxite are reported on a zero-moisture basis as dry metric tons unless otherwise stated.

Alcoa processes most of the bauxite that it mines into alumina and sells the remainder to third parties. In 2020, Alcoa-operated mines produced 41.1 million dmt and mines operated by partnerships in which Alcoa and AWAC have equity interests produced 6.9 million dmt on a proportional equity basis, for a total Company bauxite production of 48.0 million dmt.

Based on the terms of its bauxite supply contracts, the amount of bauxite AWAC purchases from its minority-owned joint ventures MRN and CBG differ from its proportional equity in those mines. Therefore, in 2020, Alcoa had access to 48.7 million dmt of production from its portfolio of bauxite interests and sold 6.5 million dmt of bauxite to third parties; 42.2 million dmt of bauxite was delivered to Alcoa and AWAC refineries.

The Company aims to grow its third-party bauxite sales business. In December 2016, the Government of Western Australia granted permission to Alcoa’s majority-owned subsidiary, AofA, to export up to 2.5 million dmt per year of bauxite for five years to third-party customers. Supply to third-party customers beyond 2021 will require approval from the Government of Western Australia. The primary customer base for third-party bauxite is located in Asia, particularly in China.

Bauxite Resource and Reserve Development Guidelines

The Company has access to large bauxite deposit areas with mining rights that extend in many cases more than 15 years from the date of this report. For purposes of evaluating the amount of bauxite that will be available to supply its refineries, the Company considers both estimates of bauxite resources as well as calculated bauxite reserves. “Bauxite resources” are deposits for which tonnage, densities, shape, physical characteristics, grade and mineral content can be estimated with a reasonable level of confidence (based on the amount of exploration sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes), such that there are reasonable prospects for economic extraction. “Bauxite reserves” represent the part of resource deposits that can be economically mined to supply alumina refineries, and include diluting materials and allowances for losses, which may occur when the material is mined. Appropriate assessments and studies have been carried out to define the reserves, and include consideration of and modification by realistically assumed mining, metallurgical, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors. Alcoa employs a conventional approach (including additional drilling with successive tightening of the drilling grid) with customized techniques to define and characterize its various bauxite deposit types allowing the Company to confidently establish the extent of its bauxite resources and their ultimate conversion to reserves.

Alcoa has adopted best practice guidelines for bauxite reserve and resource classification at its operating bauxite mines. Alcoa’s reserves are declared in accordance with the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) code guidelines. The reported ore reserves set forth in the table below are those that we estimated could be extracted economically with current technology and in current market conditions. We do not use a price for bauxite, alumina or aluminum to determine our bauxite reserves. The primary criteria for determining bauxite reserves are the feed specifications required by the receiving alumina refinery. More specifically, reserves are set based on the chemical composition of the bauxite in order to minimize bauxite processing cost and maximize refinery economics for each individual refinery. The primary specifications that are important to this analysis are the “available alumina” content of the bauxite, which is the amount of alumina extractable from bauxite using the Bayer process, and “reactive silica” content of the bauxite, which is the amount of silica that is reactive within the Bayer process. Each alumina refinery will have a target specification for these parameters, but may receive bauxite within a range that allows blending in stockpiles to achieve the receiving refinery’s target.

In addition to these chemical specifications, several other ore reserve design factors have been applied to differentiate bauxite reserves from other mineralized material. The contours of the bauxite reserves are designed using parameters such as available alumina content cutoff grade, reactive silica cutoff grade, ore density, overburden thickness, ore thickness and mine access considerations. These parameters are generally determined by using infill drilling or geological modeling. Further, our mining locations utilize annual in-fill drilling or geological modeling programs designed to progressively upgrade the reserve and resource classification of their bauxite based on the above-described factors.

The following table only includes the amount of proven and probable reserves controlled by the Company. While the level of reserves may appear low in relation to annual production levels, they are consistent with historical levels of reserves for the Company’s mining locations and consistent with the Company reserves strategy. Given the Company’s extensive bauxite resources, the abundant supply of bauxite globally, and the length of the Company’s rights to bauxite, it is not cost-effective to establish bauxite reserves that reflect the total size of the bauxite resources available to the Company. Rather, bauxite resources are upgraded annually to reserves as needed by the location. Detailed assessments are progressively undertaken within a proposed mining area and mine activity is then planned to achieve a uniform quality in the supply of blended feedstock to the relevant refinery. Alcoa believes its present sources of bauxite on a global basis are sufficient to meet the forecasted requirements of its alumina refining operations for the foreseeable future.

Bauxite Interests, Share of Reserves and Annual Production¹

Country	Project	Owners’ Mining Rights (% Entitlement)	Expiration Date of Mining Rights		Probable Reserves² (million dmt)		Proven Reserves² (million dmt)		Available Alumina Content (%) A.Al₂O₃		Reactive Silica Content (%) R.SiO₂		2020 Annual Production (million dmt)		Ore Reserve Design Factors
Australia	Darling Range Mines ML1SA	Alcoa of Australia Limited (AofA)(100%)		2024		95.8		43.2		32.0		1.0		34.8	• A.Al₂O₃ ≥ 27.5% • R.SiO₂ ≤ 3.5% • Minimum mineable thickness 1.5m • Minimum bench widths of 45m
Brazil	Poços de Caldas	Alcoa Alumínio S.A. (Alcoa Alumínio)³ (100%)		2031⁴		0.1		0.7		38.5		4.0		0.2	• A.Al₂O₃ ≥ 30% • R.SiO 2 ≤ 7%
	Juruti RN101, RN102 RN103, RN104, RN107, #34	Alcoa World Alumina Brasil Ltda. (AWA Brasil) (100%)		2100⁴		41.3		51.8		47.2		3.3		6.1	• A.Al₂O₃ ≥ 35% • R.SiO₂ ≤ 10% • Wash Recovery: ≥ 30% • Overburden /Ore (m/m) = 10/1

Equity Interests:
Brazil	Trombetas	Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. (MRN) (18.2%)		2046⁴		0.5		3.4		48.2		5.6		2.1	• A.Al₂O₃ ≥ 46% • R.SiO₂ ≤ 7% • Wash Recovery: ≥ 30%
Guinea	Boké	Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG) (22.95%)		2038		8.6		82.4		Tal₂O₃ 47.2		TsiO₂ 2.0		3.6	• A.Al₂O₃ ≥ 44% • R.SiO 2 ≤ 10% • Minimum mineable thickness 2m • Smallest Mining Unit size (SMU) 50m x 50m
Saudi Arabia	Al Ba’itha	Ma’aden Bauxite & Alumina Company (MBAC) (25.1%)		2037		30.8		15.2		TAA 48.2		TsiO2 9.3		1.2	• A.Al₂O₃ ≥ 40% • Mining dilution modeled as a skin of 6cm above and 8.5 cm below • Mining recovery applied as a skin loss of 14cm on each side of the mineralisation • Mineralisation less than 1m thick excluded

¹	This table shows only the AWAC and/or Alcoa share (proportion) of reserve and annual production tonnage.

“Probable reserves” are the portion of a bauxite reserve where the physical and chemical characteristics and limits are known with sufficient confidence for mining and to which various mining modifying factors have been applied. “Proven reserves” are the portion of a bauxite reserve where the physical and chemical characteristics and limits are known with high confidence and to which various mining modifying factors have been applied.

³	Alcoa Alumínio is ultimately owned 100% by Alcoa (not AWAC).

⁴

Brazilian mineral legislation does not limit the duration of mining concessions; rather, the concession remains in force until the deposit is exhausted. These concessions may be extended later or expire earlier than estimated, based on the rate at which these deposits are exhausted and on obtaining any additional governmental approval, as necessary.

Qualifying statements relating to the table above:

Australia—Darling Range Mines: Huntly and Willowdale are the two active AWAC mines in the Darling Range of Western Australia that supply bauxite to three local AWAC alumina refineries. They operate within ML1SA, the mineral lease issued by the State of Western Australia to Alcoa’s majority-owned subsidiary, AofA. The ML1SA lease encompasses a gross area of 712,881 hectares (including private land holdings, state forests, national parks and conservation areas) in the Darling Range and extends from east of Perth to east of Bunbury (ML1SA Area). The ML1SA lease provides AofA with various rights, including certain exclusivity rights to explore for and mine bauxite, rights to deny third party mining tenements in limited circumstances, rights to mining leases for other minerals in the ML1SA Area, and the right to prevent certain governmental actions from interfering with or prejudicially affecting the rights of AofA. The ML1SA lease term extends to 2024 and can be renewed for an additional 21-year period to 2045. The above-declared reserves are current as of December 31, 2020. The amount of reserves reflects the total AWAC share. Additional resources are routinely upgraded by additional exploration and development drilling to reserve status.

Brazil—Poços de Caldas: The above-declared reserves are current as of December 31, 2020. Tonnage is total Alcoa share. Additional resources are being upgraded to reserves as needed.

Brazil—Juruti RN101, RN102, RN103, RN104, RN107, #34: The above-declared reserves are current as of December 31, 2020. All reserves are on the Capiranga Plateau in mineral claim areas RN101, RN102, RN103, RN104, RN107, #34, within

which Alcoa has operating licenses issued by the state. Declared reserves are total AWAC share. Declared reserve tonnages and the annual production tonnage are washed and unwashed product tonnages. The Juruti mine’s operating licenses are periodically renewed.

Brazil—Trombetas-MRN: The above-declared reserves are as of December 31, 2020. Declared and annual production tonnages reflect the total for Alcoa Alumínio and AWAC shares (18.2%). Declared tonnages are washed product tonnages.

Guinea—Boké-CBG: The above-declared reserves are based on export quality bauxite reserves and are current as of December 31, 2020. Declared tonnages reflect only the AWAC share of CBG’s reserves. Annual production tonnage is reported based on AWAC’s 22.95% share. Declared reserves quality is reported based on total alumina content (Tal₂O₃) and total silica (TsiO₂) because CBG export bauxite is sold on this basis. Additional resources are being routinely drilled and modeled to upgrade to reserves as needed.

Saudi Arabia—Al Ba’itha: The Al Ba’itha Mine began production during 2014 and production was increased in 2016. Declared reserves are as of December 31, 2020. The declared reserves are located in the South Zone of the Az Zabirah Bauxite Deposit. The reserve tonnage in this declaration is AWAC share only (25.1%).

The following table provides additional information regarding the Company’s bauxite mines, all of which are open-cut mines. Excavation is done at the surface of open-cut mines to extract mineral ore (such as bauxite). Open-cut mines are not underground and the sky is viewable from the mine floor:

Mine & Location

Means of

Access

Operator

Title,

Lease or
Options

History

Type of

Mine
Mineralization
Style

Power Source

Facilities,

Use &
Condition

Australia—Darling Range; Huntly and Willowdale.

Mine locations are accessed by road. Ore is transported to refineries by long distance conveyor and rail.

Alcoa

Mining lease from the Western Australia Government. ML1SA. Expires in 2024, with option to renew.

Mining began in 1963.

Open-cut mines;

Bauxite is derived from the weathering of Archean granites and gneisses and Precambrian dolerite.

Electrical energy from natural gas is supplied by the refinery.

Infrastructure includes buildings for administration and services; workshops; power distribution; water supply; crushers; long distance conveyors.

Mines and facilities are operating.

We expect to complete the process of moving the Willowdale mining operations in 2021.

Brazil—Poços de Caldas. Closest town is Poços de Caldas, MG, Brazil.

Mine locations are accessed by road. Ore transport to the refinery is by road.

Alcoa

Mining licenses from
the Government of Brazil and Minas Gerais. Company claims and third- party leases. Operation license expires in 2022 but can be extended subject to meeting any applicable conditions.

Mining began in
1965.

Open-cut mines;

Bauxite derived from the weathering of nepheline syenite and phonolite.

Commercial grid power.

Mining offices and services are located at the refinery. Numerous small deposits are mined by contract miners and the ore is trucked to either the refinery stockpile or intermediate stockpile area. Mines and facilities are operating. Mine production has been reduced to align with the reduced production of the Poços refinery which is now producing specialty alumina.

Brazil—Juruti. Closest town is Juruti located on the Amazon River.

The mine’s port at
Juruti is located on the Amazon River and accessed by ship. Ore is transported from the mine site to the port by company owned rail.

Alcoa

Mining licenses from the Government of Brazil and Pará. Mining rights do not have a legal expiration date. See footnote 4 to the table above.

Operating licenses for the mine, washing plant and exploration are in the process of being renewed.

Operating license for the port remains valid until the government agency formalizes the renewal.

The Juruti deposit was systematically evaluated by Reynolds Metals Company (Reynolds) beginning in 1974.

ParentCo merged Reynolds into the Company in 2000. ParentCo then executed a due diligence program and expanded the exploration area. Mining began in 2009.

Open-cut mines;

Bauxite derived from weathering during the Tertiary of Cretaceous fine to medium grained feldspathic sandstones.

The deposits are covered by the Belterra clays.

Electrical energy from fuel oil is generated at the mine site. Commercial grid power at the port.

At the mine site: Fixed plant facilities for crushing and washing the ore; mine services offices and workshops; power generation; water supply; stockpiles; rail sidings.

At the port: Mine and rail administrative offices and services; port control facilities with stockpiles and ship loader.

Mine and port facilities are operating. We expect to complete the process of moving the Juruti mining operations in 2022.

Mine & Location

Means of

Access

Operator

Title,

Lease or
Options

History

Type of

Mine
Mineralization
Style

Power Source

Facilities,

Use &
Condition

Brazil—MRN. Closest town is Trombetas in the State of Pará, Brazil.

The mine and

port areas are connected by sealed road and company owned rail.

Washed ore is transported to Porto Trombetas by rail.

Trombetas is accessed by river and by air at the airport.

MRN

Mining rights and licenses from the Government of Brazil.

Concession rights expire in 2046.

Mining began in 1979.

Major expansion in 2003.

Open-cut mines.

Bauxite derived from weathering during the Tertiary of Cretaceous fine to medium grained feldspathic sandstones.

The deposits are covered by the Belterra clays.

MRN generates
its own electricity from fuel oil.

Ore mined from several plateaus is crushed and transported to the washing plant by long-distance conveyors. The washing plant is located in the mining zone.

Washed ore is transported to the port area by company-owned and operated rail. At Porto Trombetas the ore is loaded onto customer ships berthed in the Trombetas River. Some ore is dried and the drying facilities are located in the port area.

Mine planning and services and mining equipment workshops are located in the mine zone.

Price	21.49	EPS	-4
Shares	186	P/E	-5
MCap	3,988	P/FCF	6
Net Debt	917	EBIT	-265
TEV	4,905	TEV/EBIT	-19
TTM 2019-12-31, in MM, except price, ratios

10-K	2020-12-31	Filed 2021-02-25
10-Q	2020-09-30	Filed 2020-10-30
10-Q	2020-06-30	Filed 2020-07-29
10-Q	2020-03-31	Filed 2020-04-29
10-K	2019-12-31	Filed 2020-02-21
10-Q	2019-09-30	Filed 2019-10-31
10-Q	2019-06-30	Filed 2019-07-31
10-Q	2019-03-31	Filed 2019-05-09
10-K	2018-12-31	Filed 2019-02-26
10-Q	2018-09-30	Filed 2018-11-02
10-Q	2018-06-30	Filed 2018-08-02
10-Q	2018-03-31	Filed 2018-05-09
10-K	2017-12-31	Filed 2018-02-26
10-Q	2017-09-30	Filed 2017-10-27
10-Q	2017-06-30	Filed 2017-08-03
10-Q	2017-03-31	Filed 2017-05-10
S-1	2017-01-18	Public Filing
10-K	2016-12-31	Filed 2017-03-15
S-1	2016-10-26	Public Filing
10-Q	2016-09-30	Filed 2016-12-01

8-K	2020-11-30
8-K	2020-10-14
8-K	2020-10-09
8-K	2020-09-29
8-K	2020-07-15
8-K	2020-07-13
8-K	2020-07-08
8-K	2020-07-08
8-K	2020-07-07
8-K	2020-06-24
8-K	2020-05-06
8-K	2020-04-21
8-K	2020-02-03
8-K	2020-01-15
8-K	2019-12-16
8-K	2019-12-11
8-K	2019-12-04
8-K	2019-10-16
8-K	2019-09-20
8-K	2019-09-07
8-K	2019-07-17
8-K	2019-07-03
8-K	2019-07-02
8-K	2019-06-26
8-K	2019-05-08
8-K	2019-04-17
8-K	2019-01-16
8-K	2018-11-21
8-K	2018-10-11
8-K	2018-09-11
8-K	2018-08-08
8-K	2018-07-18
8-K	2018-06-18
8-K	2018-05-17
8-K	2018-05-14
8-K	2018-05-14
8-K	2018-05-09
8-K	2018-04-18
8-K	2018-04-03
8-K	2018-01-17

EX-21.1	aa-ex211_10.htm
EX-23.1	aa-ex231_6.htm
EX-31.1	aa-ex311_11.htm
EX-31.2	aa-ex312_7.htm
EX-32.1	aa-ex321_8.htm
EX-32.2	aa-ex322_9.htm
EX-95.1	aa-ex951_12.htm

AA 10K Annual Report

Alcoa Earnings 2020-12-31