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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Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) from Bahrain and Alcoa Corporation from the United States of America have extended their long-term relationship by signing yet another strategic agreement. They have renewed their alumina supply contract under which Alcoa has agreed to supply up to 16.5 million tonnes of smelter-grade aluminium oxide to Alba for ten years, starting from 2026. This renewed contract will make Alcoa Alba’s third-largest alumina supplier. The alumina will primarily come from Alcoa’s Western Australia refinery, strengthening Alcoa's position as a reliable source of alumina. At the same time, it will benefit Alba by providing good quality raw materials for producing primary aluminium. On renewing the contract, Alba’s CEO Ali Al Baqali commented: “Our long-standing partnership...
Cadoux Limited, a leading producer of high-quality critical minerals for use in electric vehicles and high-tech applications, has reportedly acquired an $848,880 R&D tax incentive offset payment for its work-in-progress critical mineral projects that will innovate process design to produce first-class high-purity alumina and for its Minhub downstream rare earth production strategy in Darwin. With this financial benefit, the company will step up its HPA and Minhub projects in line with Australia’s emerging critical minerals policy that aims to strengthen the supply chain for critical minerals to meet the growing demand for raw materials essential in producing high-tech products. A share of the R&D fund will be utilised in commercial development of Cadoux’s HPA process design project for...
Konstelec Engineers Limited (KEL), an engineering, procurement, and construction company, has acquired a whopping INR 39.63 crores contract from National Aluminium Company (NALCO), which they are to deliver within the next 12 months (from the date of LoA). The Letter of Approval (LoA) of the contract was signed on October 14, 2024, where the details of the aluminium electrical project work have been chalked out by both parties. The domestic project is scheduled to commence at the Alumina Refinery and M&R Complex in Damanjodi, Odisha, and the Visakhapatnam Port Facilities area. However, this is not the first time the companies have come together in business. On September 16, 2024, NALCO bestowed a deal of INR 12.58 Crores to KEL for aluminium instrumentation work, which is also scheduled...
In September 2024, China’s monthly production of metallurgical-grade alumina retreated from its peak by losing 4.27 per cent month-on-month. However, on a year-on-year basis, the output in September increased by 2.69 per cent from 6.732 million tonnes. Based on the above data provided by the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s metallurgical-grade alumina production is estimated to have amounted to 6.91 million tonnes in September versus 7.22 million tonnes in August 2024 . From January to September, China’s total output of metallurgical-grade alumina was 61.596 million tonnes, up 3.66 per cent Y-o-Y. SMM further showed China’s existing capacity of metallurgical-grade alumina increased by 1 million tonnes to 101.6 million tonnes, with the actual operating capacity down by 1.3 per cent M-o-M...
On October 11, 2024, Alba (Aluminium Bahrain), the single-sited smelter, announced its two significant safety milestone achievements: the company's no on-site Lost Time Injury(LTI) inclusive safe-working hours touching 25 million and 8th consecutive summer without any heat-induced injuries and illness. Alba's CEO, Ali Al Baqali, has praised the employees and contractor workers for their pivotal role in achieving these safety milestones. He emphasised, "Our 25 million safe-working hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) and 8th consecutive safe summer are not merely numbers on a page; they represent a culture of safety that has been meticulously woven into the fabric of Alba. This is more than just a milestone; it's a testament to the unwavering commitment and dedication of our employees and...
Alumina futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange soared to a new record, driven by bauxite supply disruptions from Guinea and sustained demand from China. On Friday, alumina prices surged by as much as 6.4 per cent, reaching RMB 4,630 ($655) per tonne on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, marking the highest level since the contract's debut in June 2023. In tandem, the price for alumina shipments from Western Australia also saw a significant rise, climbing to $550 per tonne, the highest level recorded in data going back to 2021. The tightening market for alumina, a key feedstock for aluminium smelters, is primarily attributed to supply chain challenges and resilient Chinese demand, which continues to bolster prices. This development highlights growing concerns about alumina availability as...
The non-contact form of Atomic Force Microscopy(AFM) led by researchers from Vienna University of Technology(TU Wien) and University of Vienna has revealed unknown facts about the notably complex structure found on the surface of aluminium oxide. The research report states that the structure of the crystal on the surface differs from the atoms inside the material at hand, which pursue a stringent arrangement elevating the crystal's characteristic shapes. Professors Jan Balajka and Ulrike Diebold, among others, used a stiff qPlus force sensor-based nc-AFM method to reveal the precise atomic sequence of the α- Al2O3 exterior. The researchers uncovered that the rearranged surface allows the aluminium atoms to lance into the material and form chemical bonds with the oxygen atoms in the...
Alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) rebounded in August 2024 after a drop the previous month. The output, as per the International Aluminium Institute survey, recovered by 1.32 per cent M-o-M, a testament to the industry's stability, even though it did not reach the production level achieved in June. The same is true with the daily average output, as it rose in August by 500 tonnes after a fall in July but still lagged behind June production. However, despite the drop in Africa & Asia's alumina production during July 2024, the output by a whisker reached above 1.2 million tonnes. In the said month, the production decreased by 1.95 per cent M-o-M to 1.209 million tonnes. According to IAI data, alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) during August 2024 amounted to 1.225...
In September 2024, the global aluminium industry witnessed significant developments across production, sustainability, and market dynamics. Aluminium producers continued to push for greener technologies, as the global primary aluminium producers are focusing on expanding their low-carbon aluminium portfolios, while recycling initiatives gained traction worldwide, particularly in Europe and North America. China, the world's largest aluminium producer, reported steady output growth, though facing challenges with energy restrictions and environmental regulations. Meanwhile, demand for aluminium remained steady in the automotive and packaging sectors, driven by the growing emphasis on lightweighting and circular economy practices. Trade tensions have shaped market conditions, alerting...
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The world's alumina production in August 2024 maintained a robust monthly record, increasing slightly from 12.511 million tonnes in July. Thanks to the growing alumina output in Africa & Asia (ex-China), South America, and Europe (including Russia) that drove the world's production, offsetting a drop in Oceania and North America. For the fourth consecutive month in 2024, the world's alumina output consistently stood above 12 million tonnes. However, according to a year-on-year calculation, the output dropped from 12.517 million tonnes. Nonetheless, the world's total alumina production during January-August stood 2.08 per cent higher annually, from 94.9 million tonnes to 96.878 million tonnes, buoyed by consistent Y-o-Y growth in output through July 2024. According to the International...
Aluminium is an essential component of the global economy. The rising demand for green metal clearly shows that no matter how many setbacks or blips come across, the market or the need for this green metal will never decrease. Below is a recap of the events which unfolded in the upstream aluminium sector throughout the week. The upstream sector includes bauxite, alumina, and primary aluminium. The Baphlimali Bauxite Mines in Odisha, operated by Utkal Alumina, a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries Limited under the Aditya Birla Group, has been awarded the prestigious Misrilal Jain Environment Award for 2023-24. Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has inaugurated a $941 million smelter-grade alumina refinery in West Kalimantan, operated by state miner Aneka Tambang (Antam) and state-owned...
Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has inaugurated a $941 million smelter-grade alumina refinery operated by state miner Aneka Tambang (Antam) and state-owned aluminium producer Inalum in the West Kalimantan province. The refinery boasts a production capacity of 1 million metric tonnes of alumina annually, requiring 3.3 million tonnes of bauxite as input. Indonesia, rich in natural resources, is focused on strengthening its domestic mineral processing industry rather than exporting raw materials. "The domestic aluminium demand is 1.2 million tonnes, 56% is imported while we have the raw material. When these are all completed, we can stop the import," added Joko Widodo. The country has attracted significant investment in nickel processing plants following the export ban on unprocessed...
The Jamaica-based bauxite mining and alumina-producing company Jamalco has successfully reopened its Rocky Point port following extensive repairs, resuming normal shipping operations. The port's conveyor system was damaged by storm conditions caused by Hurricane Beryl, which passed offshore on July 3 and impacted Jamaica's southern coast. In response to the damage, Jamalco declared force majeure and temporarily shifted to alternative port arrangements to fulfill shipments. However, the interim solutions presented logistical challenges, and the company acknowledged that only partial commitments were met during the disruption. With the Rocky Point port back in operation, Jamalco has restored its regular shipment schedules, concluding the challenges posed by the storm damage. Repairs to the...
According to the Shanghai Metal Market (SMM), alumina price has surged by RMB 13 per tonne, averaging at RMB 4,006 per tonne as of 20th September. This brings the price higher by RMB 99 per tonne in one month from RMB 3,907 per tonne. The price has increased in almost all the key regions. Like in Guanxi, the average price reached RMB 3,990 per tonne, up by RMB 25 per tonne from the previous day. Shandong and Guizhou regions experienced price hikes of RMB 20 per tonne to officially close at RMB 3,980 per tonne and RMB 3,995 per tonne, respectively. Also, in Henan and Shanxi, the price has improved slightly by RMB 5 per tonne and RMB 15 per tonne. This brings the average price to RMB 4,015 per tonne in Henan and RMB 4,030 per tonne in Shanxi. Meanwhile, the aluminium ingot price on the...
According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), alumina production in the Americas totalled 1.179 million tonnes in July 2024, with 83.88 per cent contribution from South America and 16.12 per cent from North America. Unlike the primary aluminium sector, South America dominates the alumina industry over North America. South America’s production and analysis However, South America’s alumina production in July saw a dip from this year’s highest output in the previous month. Recording a fall of 5.36 per cent, South America’s alumina production in July stood at 989,000 tonnes versus 1.045 million tonnes in June. July was the second month this year when South America’s alumina output volume stood below the 1 million tonnes level. In February, the production volume was 975,000 tonnes,...
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings has announced a partnership with three Indonesian firms to establish and operate an alumina refinery in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The refinery is projected to produce between one and 1.2 million tonnes annually in its first phase, with plans to double this capacity. "By partnering with AAR and DSM through this joint venture, we are not only expanding our upstream business operations but also unlocking synergies that will enhance the overall value of the Press Metal group," said Press Metal Group CEO Tan Sri Paul Koon. About the project The project's first phase will cost an estimated US$750 million (RM3.24 billion) and will be financed through a combination of equity and loans. Press Metal, the largest aluminium smelter in Southeast Asia, is collaborating...
On Tuesday, September 17, Century Aluminum, a global primary aluminium producer with operations in the United States, announced the resumption of normal shipping operations of alumina at Jamalco’s Rocky Point port after the completion of the repair work of damages caused by devastative cyclone Hurricane Beryl. The news came after Century’s President and CEO Jesse Gary said, “I want to thank our entire Jamalco team who rose to the occasion following Hurricane Beryl and successfully completed these repairs safely and with a disciplined focus on execution.” Century’s Jamalco alumina refinery was back to full operation within less than two weeks after recovering from the impact of Hurricane Beryl, which took place on July 3, bringing intense winds and heavy rains. In Iceland, Century Aluminum...
According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, the Caribbean Island nation's mineral export earnings surged by 27% during the first four months of the year, driven primarily by increased alumina exports. From January to April, the island's Mining and Quarrying sector earned US$206.5 million in export revenue. Alumina exports played a key role in this growth, reaching US$183.9 million, a 40 per cent rise from the US$131.4 million earned in the same period last year. However, the sector did face a slight setback with bauxite exports, which fell by 5.6 per cent to US$20.6 million, providing a balanced view of the sector's performance.
