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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Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) and the Aluminium Corporation of China (Chalco) have signed a collaboration agreement to build an alumina refinery in the Republic of Guinea. This collaboration, which got underway in March with the signature of a memorandum of understanding, makes use of the combined expertise of both companies in the alumina refining industry. Emirates Global Aluminium, GAC's parent company, built the first alumina refinery in the UAE, creating the requisite national skills and capacities. On the other side, Chalco is a key player in China's nonferrous metals market, with a diverse asset portfolio. Following the military coup in the West African nation , Guinea, which is now recognized as the world’s highest exporter of bauxite, has demanded from international mining...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, metallurgical grade alumina production in China during May 2023 (31 calendar days) amounted to 6.682 million tonnes, up 2.17 per cent from 6.54 million tonnes in April (30 calendar days). But the average daily output decreased month-on-month from 218,000 tonnes to 216,000 tonnes in May, although the number of production days in May was more than in April. The dip in daily output was due to the slow-down of new capacity growth and concentrated maintenance. China’s alumina production in May also fell 3.9 per cent on a year-on-year basis, citing the shut-down of some alumina facilities or lower operating rates due to poor profitability for high-cost alumina in Shanxi, Henan, Inner Mongolia, and other regions. As of the end of May, China’s...
China's rising reliance on bauxite, the primary raw material for alumina production, has prompted the world's largest miner to seek alumina refineries worldwide, particularly emphasising crucial supplier Indonesia following an export embargo. According to analysts and AL Circle's industry-focused report Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023 , China's reliance on imported bauxite has reached 57 per cent, and this figure is projected to rise further. Protectionist policies of some of the bauxite-producing countries, along with the quality depletion of the bauxite reserves in China, will drive the reliance on bauxite from Guinea. As China ramps up its decarbonization efforts, the country must also maintain its enormous industries critical to its economy, including aluminium. According to...
Surefire Resources published its first mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 38 million tonnes of aluminium oxide for the Victory Bore Project in Western Australia, underlining its high-purity alumina (HPA) potential. The MRE can potentially increase the project's value before an economic pre-feasibility study evaluation is scheduled for November of this year. Surefire announced in March 2023 a large, independently determined Exploration Target Estimate (ETE) for the Victory Bore of 682 million tonnes to 1,190 million tonnes at 0.2 per cent to 0.43 per cent vanadium oxide. In a revised Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) released earlier this year, the business indicated a 56 per cent increase to their 321 million tonnes at 0.39 per cent vanadium oxide values. Furthermore, Surefire is evaluating...
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Alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) stood at 505,000 tonnes during April 2023, facing a fall of 52,000 tonnes or 9.34 per cent month-on-month, found the International Aluminium Institute. In March, the output was 557,000 tonnes, up by 13.21 per cent from 492,000 tonnes in February. On a year-on-year calculation, alumina output in Europe (incl. Russia) recorded a 26.06 per cent plunge during April’23 from 683,000 tonnes. In the first four months of 2023, Europe (incl. Russia) churned out 2.071 million tonnes of alumina compared to 3.113 million tonnes during the same period of the last year. That reflected a sharp decline of 33.47 per cent year-on-year. In April 2023, Europe (incl. Russia) produced 16,800 tonnes of alumina on a daily average. That registered a decline of 1,200...
On Friday, June 2, the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) announced receiving alumina futures trading permission from Beijing after the Securities Regulatory Commission approved the plan. That makes the SHFE the first exchange on Earth to offer an alumina contract with physical delivery. Noting several benefits of listing alumina futures, SHFE said in a press statement: “The listing of alumina futures will enhance the competitiveness for China’s alumina industry and its price influence and also improve companies’ risk-management abilities.” However, the Shanghai exchange has not yet revealed the date of starting to accept alumina futures listings. The People’s Republic of China accounts for more than half of the world’s total alumina output. In 2022, China churned out 81.86 million tonnes...
Alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) amounted to 1.08 million tonnes during April 2023, reflecting an increase of 1.41 per cent month-on-month, found the International Aluminium Institute. In March, the output was at 1.065 million tonnes after a fall of 3.10 per cent from 1.033 million tonnes. On a year-on-year calculation, Africa & Asia (ex-China)’s alumina production during April’23 decreased by 8.4 per cent from 1.179 million tonnes. In April 2023, Africa & Asia (ex-China)’s daily average output of alumina stood at 36,000 tonnes, up by 4.65 per cent M-o-M from 34,400 tonnes and down by 8.40 per cent Y-o-Y from 39,300 tonnes. During January-April 2023, Africa & Asia (ex-China)’s alumina production totalled 4.297 million tonnes, down by 4.32 per cent from 4.491 million tonnes...
Dr Nigel Clarke, the Minister of Finance and Public Service, insists that it would not have been economically viable for the Jamaican government to take over the responsibility of 100 per cent operations of Jamalco, the bauxite mining and alumina refining company, after the previous majority shareholder, Noble Holdings, sold its 55 per cent stake in the company for US$ 1 following it went into financial stress. While responding to questions raised by Phillip Paulwell, the Opposition Spokesman on Energy and Mining, during the sitting of the House of Representatives in May, said that while the government considered an entire investment in the company rather than its 45 per cent stake, it would have been too risky. He said, "We would have looked at that as a possibility. However, with our...
According to the International Aluminium Institute, world alumina production during April 2023 edged a fall of 3.32 per cent month-on-month to stand at 11.235 million tonnes. In March, the output stood at 11.621 million tonnes, reflecting a hike of 12.48 per cent from 10.331 million tonnes in February. On a year-on-year calculation, world alumina output in April recorded a decline of 2.49 per cent from 11.522 million tonnes. The world average daily output in April’23 was 374,500 tonnes, slightly down by 400 tonnes from 374,900 tonnes in March. On an annual calculation, it plunged by 9,600 tonnes or 2.5 per cent from 384,100 tonnes. During January-April 2023, the world alumina output amounted to 44.607 million tonnes versus 45.078 million tonnes during the same period of the previous year,...
The average alumina spot price in China has extended decline over the weekend, marking the fifth consecutive day of downfall since Tuesday, May 23. Shanghai Metals Market finds the alumina price starts the week with a fall of RMB 8 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,853 per tonne as of Monday, May 29. After an incessant decline almost throughout the week, China’s domestic alumina spot price stands 0.77 per cent lower W-o-W than RMB 2,875 per tonne. In Shandong, the average alumina spot price has dwindled by RMB 20 per tonne to settle at RMB 2,845 per tonne, followed by a decline of RMB 10 per tonne in Henan to RMB 2,920 per tonne and RMB 5 per tonne in Shanxi to RMB 2,850 per tonne, found SMM. Meanwhile, the Australian alumina FOB price has remained restrained at US$340 per tonne. A00 aluminium...
According to a recent report, new owners of Jamalaco refinery in Clarendon have initiated incorporating the alumina company before seeking financial funding from capital markets. According to Austin Mooney, Managing Director of Jamalco, incorporation would allow the joint venture firm to acquire financing from overseas. Mooney did not say the incorporation would definitively raise loans or debt, only that it would increase access to capital outside Jamaica. On Wednesday, May 17, Austin Mooney commented the legal formation of JV "is progressing very fast as it is a priority for both partners." He said after a reception in Clarendon thrown by Jamalco’s new owner – Century Aluminum Company, which acquired a 55 per cent share in the refinery. "We are a non-incorporated joint venture, so we...
China’s metallurgical-grade alumina production in April 2023 (30 calendar days) stood at 6.54 million tonnes compared to 6.64 million tonnes in March (31 calendar days), showed the Shanghai Metals Market survey. Hence, on a month-on-month calculation, China’s alumina output reflected a 1.5 per cent drop in April. But annually, the production grew by 5.4 per cent from 6.201 million tonnes. The daily output averaged 218,000 tonnes in April after dropping by 3,700 tonnes month-on-month from 214,300 tonnes and growing by 12,000 tonnes year-on-year from 206,000 tonnes. The installed capacity and operating capacity totalled 100.25 million tonnes and 79.5 million tonnes, respectively, with an average operating rate of 79.3 per cent. The average operating rate in Shanxi was 69.4 per cent in April...
Alcoa and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) have signed one of the largest alumina supply contracts, which can help in strengthening the long-term supply relationship between the two companies. Under the new multi-year deal, Alcoa will be providing EGA with smelting quality alumina, making the former EGA's biggest third-party alumina supplier. Volume options will enable EGA to purchase up to 15.6 million tonnes of alumina from Western Australia for the eight-year arrangement, which begins in 2024. The supply deal will account for a substantial share of Alcoa's annual third-party alumina sales. In 2022, EGA's Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi met 47 per cent of EGA's total alumina demand. "Most of our alumina needs into the next decade are now secured by our own production and a...
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India reveals that the alumina exports to Russia escalated to 0.258 million tonnes in April-February of the financial year 2022-23 (FY23) from zero in the previous period of FY22. The surge in India-Russia trade with the mentioned commodity has been under the global export-import radar. Russia is one of the world's leading aluminium producers (ex-China) and a significant alumina consumer. Russia was shut off from important supply sources like Australia and Ukraine-Russia geopolitical crisis as both nations chose not to send alumina to Russia. Australia stated it prohibited the supply of alumina and bauxite to Russia because they were vital components in manufacturing and developing weapons. Other suppliers, including...
On Monday, the Odisha government approved 11 projects worth INR 2,841 crore in investment, expected to provide employment opportunities to around 3,721 people. The approval was granted at the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) on Monday, April 8. In addition to aluminium and steel, the approved projects at the SLSWCA meeting include chemicals, plastics, food processing and packaging, textiles and apparel, tourism, and renewable energy. The proposal for expansion of the Utkal Alumina International in Rayagada district and Hindalco Industries in Sambalpur’s Lapanga district was also approved. The two projects are expected to generate around 500 jobs and INR 1,000 crore in investments. Nine of the 11 companies present at the SLSWCA meeting had participated in the Make in...
According to the International Aluminium Institute, alumina production in Europe (including Russia) surged by 13.41 per cent or 66,000 tonnes month-on-month during March 2023 to reach 558,000 tonnes. In February, the output stood at 492,000 tonnes, descending by 4.84 per cent from 517,000 tonnes. On a year-on-year basis, Europe’s (including Russia) alumina production in March 2023 reflected a plunge of 27.44 per cent from 769,000 tonnes. In the first quarter of 2023 ended March 31, alumina output in Europe totalled 1.567 million tonnes, registering a 9 per cent fall from 1.722 million tonnes in Q4 2022 and a slump of 35.50 per cent from 2.430 million tonnes during the same period last year. The daily average alumina production in Europe stood at 18,000 tonnes during March 2023 – 400...
According to Reza Kholghy, a professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering and lead researcher in Carleton University's Energy and Particle Technology Laboratory, using metals, particularly aluminium, as a fuel source for energy storage and release could significantly decrease gas emissions and other pollutants associated with burning fossil fuels. Each year, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere exceeds what the Earth's natural processes can eliminate. CO2 emissions, which come from burning fossil fuels for energy, significantly contribute to global warming. Mines, mills, power plants, and factories are the main sources of these emissions, with the industrial sector being Canada's largest producer of greenhouse gases. Kholghy specifically mentioned: "Metals,...
According to the International Aluminium Institute, alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) stood at 1.070 million tonnes during March 2023, which reflected an increase of 2.88 per cent month-on-month. The output grew in March after a decline of 7.06 per cent in the previous month from 1.119 million tonnes to 1.040 million tonnes. But the total production in three months (Q1 2023) in Africa & Asia (ex-China) edged a decline of 6.11 per cent sequentially from 3.439 million tonnes to 3.229 million tonnes. On a year-on-year calculation, the quarterly output reflected a dip of 2.51 per cent from 3.312 million tonnes. On an annual basis, monthly alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) during March 2023 recorded a fall as well by 1.65 per cent from 1.088 million tonnes. Daily...
