Domestic spot alumina prices edged down slightly last week amid flat trading activity. Recent alumina price movements were mainly attributed to earlier concentrated restocking by downstream buyers, which has led to accumulating inventories at rail stations and smelters. Coupled with supply-side maintenance-driven output cuts that are still building, readily available spot volumes have tightened relatively. Only sporadic tender deals were heard recently, leaving prices in a temporary steady phase. On the bauxite front, domestic ore prices saw limited movement last week. Supply-side bottlenecks are unlikely to ease in the near term, with mines prioritising captive supply, leaving little excess spot material available. For imported ore, freight rates rebounded slightly and consecutively last...
The global aluminium supply chain is facing a series of changes that extend from bauxite mines and alumina refineries to smelters, regional premiums and finished-metal trade. In 2026, the market’s direction is being shaped not only by production volumes but also by freight costs, export restrictions, shifting Chinese demand and tariffs. Developments across Guinea, Australia, China, Europe and North America point to a market where access to supply is increasingly as important as the availability of raw materials. Bauxite supply: Guinea’s cap meets a well-stocked China, but is it stable? Guinea remains central to the seaborne bauxite market, with its shipment connections to China demonstrating the importance of reliable logistics. A new sea-rail route has enabled a Guinea bauxite shipment...
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A recent controversy has emerged for thirteen cargo ships of the Aughinish Alumina plant, Europe's largest alumina refinery owned by Rusal, serving the aluminium oxide refinery in Co. Limerick. These thirteen cargo ships have been detained by the Irish authorities in recent years, which is more than any other port in the State. On the grounds of defective rising safety concerns, lack of proper training and poor crew condition, these thirteen cargo ships of the Aughinish Alumina plant have been detained. Moreover, the majority of the cargo detention by the Irish authorities, taking place since 2020, has emerged from the Aughinish port out of 28 total official ports within the State. Cargoes which are docked at the Aughinish Port mainly serve the Aughinish alumina plant, which is deemed to...
Indonesia’s decision to ban bauxite exports in 2023 has changed the map of alumina supply. Within a year, the country flipped from being a raw ore shipper to a net exporter of alumina in 2024, a shift that is now unsettling traditional producers in Australia and Brazil. Analysts believe Indonesia could add double-digit million tonnes of capacity by 2027. If that happens, the alumina market could tip from tight supply into surplus within two years. From ore to alumina Until the ban, most of Indonesia’s bauxite was sent to China. Today, that ore is feeding a string of new refineries at home. The result: more cargoes of alumina leaving Indonesian ports and fewer raw bauxite shipments abroad. The country’s location gives it another advantage. It sits close to China, the world’s biggest...
The UC Rusal alumina train that derailed along the Bog Walk Gorge in St Catherine earlier this month has now been removed, with Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) confirming minimal environmental damage. The incident, which saw three hopper cars tumble off an embankment into the gorge, raised immediate concerns because of its proximity to the Rio Cobre, an essential water source for local communities and agriculture. NEPA’s assessment and cleanup oversight NEPA reported that the alumina spillage was confined to the base of the embankment. It posed no toxic threat and did not affect water quality. Drone inspections and on-site checks confirmed there was no oil leakage, no fish kill, and no observable impact on aquatic life. The cleanup was carried out under NEPA’s...
The reliability of the price benchmarks for commodities is fundamental to global trade and investment decisions made. When even slight adjustments happen to the benchmarks, it is important for the participants in the market to know the implications. The recent adjustments made to the alumina index in Australia focus attention on the accuracy of price reporting and the mechanisms that hold the system accountable. Alumina is the medium for making aluminium from bauxite ore, an important input factor to the global supply chain of metals. About two tonnes of alumina are needed to create a tonne of aluminium, which makes alumina widely used from aerospace to packaging. The FOB Australia alumina index is now the world's most significant benchmark, serving as a reference point for contracts,...
Tracing back to July 2025, Impact Minerals, an Australia-based mineral exploration company, is advancing its focus on high-purity alumina (HPA) with the Lake Hope Project in Western Australia, where a completed pre-feasibility study positions it as one of the world's lowest-cost potential producers. The organisation now, besides the Lake Hope Project, reinforces its strategic commitment to HPA through Alluminous, its 50 per cent-owned entity, which is advancing the HiPurA HPA pilot plant toward commissioning. Lake Hope Project at a glance The project, located about 500 km southeast of Perth , holds a maiden ore reserve of 1.7 million tonnes grading 26 per cent Al₂O₃, translating to around 450,000 tonnes of contained alumina and supporting a projected 33-year mine life. With plans to ramp...
Alumina production in Asia (including China) and Africa continued to rise in the first half of 2025, but fresh data from the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) indicates signs of cooling by mid-year. With China still dominating global output, new projects in Indonesia, India, and Africa are reshaping the supply landscape, as governments in bauxite-rich regions tighten rules to encourage local refining. In the first half of 2025, alumina production across Asia and Africa reached 49.07 million tonnes, a 6.1 per cent increase from 46.26 million tonnes in the same period of 2024 and a 10.5 per cent rise from 44.41 million tonnes in 2023. The year began on a strong note, with output including China at 8.58 million tonnes in January, but volumes slipped to 8.03 million tonnes by June,...
Austrian technology and market leader in ropeway engineering group Doppelmayr has secured a major contract to develop and implement India's first RopeCon system at the Aditya Alumina Refinery in Kansariguda, Odisha. The system, which is expected to be operational by Q3 2027, represents a significant step forward in Hindalco's aim to implement sustainable technology throughout its mining and refining activities. Pioneering technology for Indian mining The RopeCon system, which combines the engineering of traditional ropeways with continuous conveyor technology, will span 2,300 metres with an elevation drop of 241 metres. Importantly, it will cross challenging and agricultural terrain with only four supporting towers, considerably reducing land disturbance. It will carry 1,500 tonnes of...
Century Aluminum, the US primary aluminium producer, is preparing to pour up to USD 30 million into its Jamaican alumina refinery, Jamalco, in 2026, a move aimed at slashing energy costs and restoring the plant to full strength. The update came during the company’s latest investor call. Century’s executive vice-president, CFO and treasurer, Peter Trpkovski, outlined the plans, “For our 55 per cent interest, I’d expect USD 10 million to USD15 million in sustaining operations, and another USD 10 million to USD 15 million in investments at Jamalco next year.” The Government of Jamaica retains the remaining 45 per cent of Jamalco, which sits in Halse Hall, Clarendon. Trpkovski said work is advancing on the long-awaited turbine generator, alongside other initiatives to push Jamalco back into...
The National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA), a Jamaican governmental body, stated that there was negligible damage to the environment following UC Rusal's bauxite train derailment in the Bog Walk Gorge on Saturday, August 9, 2025. Reports indicate that the risk to the river is low, too. Bauxite train derailment in Bog Walk Gorge – key details and early findings The accident involved seven rail carts transporting alumina to the port from UC Rusal's Windalco plant in Ewarton. Three carts toppled off the retaining embankment, while one partially fell into the river, prompting NEPA to conduct inspections immediately upon arrival at the site. The Bog Walk Gorge is a critical roadway and railway corridor in St Catherine, beside the Rio Cobre, which is an important water supply for the...
Repair work is under way in Bog Walk Gorge, St Catherine, Jamaica, after three alumina-filled cars from a Windalco bauxite train derailed on August 9 at the entrance of the rail tunnel. The cars plunged into the Rio Cobre and knocked down a utility pole, causing major transport and power disruptions. UC Rusal, operator of the Windalco plant in Ewarton, is leading efforts to restore the damaged section of the railway. Immediate disruptions and power outages Due to the derailment, the gorge was temporarily closed, and as a result, vehicular traffic was halted, causing delays throughout St Catherine and neighbouring parishes. Jamaica Public Service (JPS) crews were sent to replace the broken pole and restore electricity to the communities affected. Most of the affected areas have seen power...
Australia stands as a major global player in aluminium production. As per AL Circle's report, Australia continues to be the second major producer and the biggest exporting country of alumina in the world. The country is estimated to have produced around 18.25 million tonnes in 2023-24, a decrease from 18.97 million tonnes in 2022-23. According to various sources and AL Circle's forecast , Australia's alumina production for 2024-25 & 2025-26 is to attain 16.39 million tonnes (approx.) & 16.28 million tonnes (approx.), respectively. The forecast is that there will be a dip due to the production curtailment at the Kwinana refinery. As per EnergyQuest, the alumina and aluminium sectors generate more than $13 billion in export earnings each year, underpinning a total industry value that...
India’s alumina trade landscape is witnessing a significant transformation, driven by expanding domestic capacity and a strategic shift away from traditional suppliers like Bahrain. The shift comes amid rising domestic alumina production and stabilising global market conditions, prompting Indian refiners to re-evaluate where and how they procure this essential input for aluminium smelting. According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, India imported just 155,563 tonnes of alumina during the financial year April 2024 to March 2025, a steep 66.27 per cent decline from the 461,078 tonnes recorded the previous year. This dramatic drop reflects both improved domestic output and a changing approach to trade partnerships. Monthly data further underscores this shift. Between January and May...
The world alumina production (including chemical-grade) witnessed a notable setback in June 2025, declining 3 per cent month-on-month to 12.147 million tonnes - the lowest monthly output since February, according to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). The downturn was driven by reduced output in both metallurgical and chemical-grade alumina, hinting at broader challenges across the supply chain. Chemical-grade alumina saw a sharp 8 per cent M-o-M decline, falling to 714,000 tonnes, while metallurgical-grade output slipped by 2.72 per cent to 11.433 million tonnes. Although metallurgical-grade alumina recorded a marginal year-on-year increase from 11.385 million tonnes, June’s figure was the second-lowest monthly total of the year, again trailing only February. For the second...
In alignment with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) and its commitment to achieving zero harm, Rio Tinto, a leading global mining group engaged in the discovery, mining and processing of the Earth's mineral resources has published comprehensive details on its global tailings facilities, setting a benchmark for safe and responsible tailings management across the industry. In the recent disclosure, the company has made an update on 14 tailings facilities, which are being rated very high or extreme consequences under the GISTM classifications. This has been previously disclosed on August 4, 2023 and in today's time, new information on the 84 tailings facilities are released, which are rated as low, high or significant. Rio Tinto Chief Technical Officer Mark Davies...
According to the data revealed by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organisation (IMIDRO), the alumina powder production in Iran stood at 74,425 tonnes for March 21 to July 22 2025. Compared to the first four months of the previous Iranian Calendar year (1403), the amount closed at 76,885 tonnes, reflecting a 3.1 per cent fall Y-o-Y. Energy crisis - the reason for Y-o-Y decrease? One of the main reasons for the Y-o-Y decrease can be attributed to the ongoing energy crisis. Widespread electricity shortages triggered power outages, urging industries to curtail or suspend operations, directly impacting alumina output during the period. Not only this, PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) had previously encountered persistent power supply challenges,...
Impact Minerals has once again confirmed its position as the lowest-cost global HPA producer with its recent release of a Pre‑Feasibility Study (PFS) for its Lake Hope High‑Purity Alumina (HPA) project in Western Australia. According to the PFS, the Net Present Value (NPV₁₀) is no less than AUD 1.165 billion (USD 746 million), a flat‑line CapEx of AUD 259 million (USD 167 million), and operating costs of ~USD 5,860 per tonne. However, it shows a potential of sliding below USD 4500 with the byproduct credits. Strategy meets scale: Impact Mineral’s vision for HPA growth Pilot plant & government-backed innovation A pilot plant is underway with CAD 2.87 million (USD 2.07 million) in UK‑PCRC funding, partnered between CPC Engineering and Edith Cowan University. The plant is focused on membrane...
The recent suspension of Aughinish Alumina from Ireland's ex-ante energy market on July 24, 2025, has brought to the fore the increasing dilemmas around geopolitical commitments and industrial continuity, even as the plant, Europe's largest alumina refinery, continues to operating, at least while its owner, the Russian Rusal, is becoming increasingly embroiled in the effect of sanctions arising out of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Enterprise Minister Peter Burke confirmed, “We’re working with the company, and that’s the key thing... We need to ensure that there is a pathway.” Despite being disconnected from the energy trading platform, a spokesperson for Eirgrid clarified, “Aughinish Alumina have not been taken offline and remains connected to the transmission system. EirGrid can confirm...
China's exports of alumina including metallurgical-grade totalled 170,981 tonnes in June, down by 17.7 per cent from May but up by 8.9 per cent from the same month in 2024, according to the latest data released by the country's General Administration of Customs (GACC). Last month's decline marked the third consecutive on-month decrease in alumina exports, Mysteel Global noted. The June figure brought China's total alumina exports over the first half of 2025 to 1.34 million tonnes, representing a sharp 65.7 per cent increase from the January-June period last year, the GACC data showed. Russia remained the largest buyer of China's alumina, accounting for 86.7 per cent of June's total exports. However, shipments to Russia fell by 19.1 per cent from May to 148,326 tonnes, according to the...
