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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According to the latest report revealed by Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), Iran produced 225,942 tonnes of aluminium oxide, commonly known as alumina, in the past year 1401 (ended March 20, 2023). That reflected a drop of 2 per cent from the previous year despite a growing trend till the first nine months (March 21-December 21, 2022). As per the data shared by IMIDRO, Iran’s alumina output stood at 176,239 tonnes during March-December , reflecting a 1 per cent rise year-on-year from 175,284 tonnes. In the final quarter of the Iranian calendar year, Iran’s alumina production dwindled by 13.40 per cent quarter-on-quarter from 57,394 tonnes to 49,703 tonnes unlike the sequential rise in output in the third quarter by 1.50 per cent. In the...
According to the International Aluminium Institute, the world alumina production stood at 11.417 million tonnes in March 2023, bringing the total output in the first quarter of the year to 33.175 million tonnes. Hence, the quarterly output ended March 31 decreased by 5.5 per cent quarter-on-quarter from 35.090 million tonnes and dropped 1.14 per cent year-on-year from 33.556 million tonnes. The monthly production of alumina in March 2023 stood 10.44 per cent higher than 10.338 million tonnes in February but edged a slight fall of 0.89 per cent from 11.519 million tonnes in March 2022. The world’s daily average production of alumina in March 2023 was 368,300 tonnes – 0.24 per cent less M-o-M than 369,200 tonnes and 0.89 per cent Y-o-Y from 371,600 tonnes. In China, alumina production...
Impact Minerals has secured definitive commitments from its two major owners, the Bunnenberg Family Office and ABC Beteiligungen, to fund $4,000,000 via a placement at 1.2 cents per share to speed up the development of Lake Hope High Purity Alumina (HPA) project in Western Australia, in which the business recently announced an option to acquire an 80% stake by completing a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS). "Since announcing the acquisition, our work has confirmed the project's significant potential, and we have now exercised the option to earn an 80% interest by completing a Pre-Feasibility Study. With the new funds, we can now accelerate this study and produce final products that can be provided to potential customers for qualification testing. We have already made considerable strides in...
Norsk Hydro said on Thursday that it would sell a 30 per cent share in Brazilian alumina refinery Alunorte and a 5 per cent investment in bauxite producer Mineracao Rio do Norte to Swiss miner and trader Glencore. However, in a recent update, Glencore plans to pay about $700 million for the equity interests upon the conclusion of the agreement in the second half of 2023, according to a separate statement, which will provide the miner and dealer with a proportional offtake of the metal. "The growing decarbonisation trend is driving demand not only for the mass production of batteries that require the raw materials which Glencore produces but also for primary aluminium as a strong, lightweight manufacturing metal," said Robin Scheiner, head of alumina and aluminium at Glencore. As per the...
According to an S&P Global Commodity Insights report on Wednesday, April 26, Alcoa has withdrawn the force majeure for its Western Australian alumina business. The news came after Alcoa spokesperson confirmed the matter. But before that, there was hearsay in the market regarding the force majeure lift from several sources as early as April 21. Alcoa first notified of the force majeure to its alumina customers in January 2023, resulting from the impact of lower natural gas supply in Western Australia, cutting about 30 per cent of output at the Kwinana alumina refinery . Per the company’s 1Q2023 results, Kwinana refinery was being operated at 20 per cent or 438,000 tonnes per year less capacity as of March 31, as one of the five digesters remained offline. Although the gas supply situation...
In line with the report published last day that Century Aluminium agreed to buy a 55 per cent stake in Jamalco, the US-based primary aluminium producer signed a purchase contract with Noble Group Holdings Limited for US$1. The deal is expected to close by the end of April 2023, but the full transaction price is unknown. This update was published after Century said in filings, “A wholly owned subsidiary of Century will acquire General Alumina Holdings Limited, a Noble subsidiary and owner of Noble’s 55 per cent interest in Jamalco, for US$1. The transaction is expected to close by the end of April 2023.” Although the deal price is not explained, it implies the transaction may have cleared Noble of liabilities for Jamalco going forward. The Hong Kong-based commodity trader Noble acquired a...
Hydro has struck a deal with Glencore under which Glencore would purchase 30 per cent of the Brazilian alumina refinery Hydro Alunorte and 5 per cent of the Brazilian bauxite production Mineraco Rio do Norte (MRN). Glencore will buy an extra 40 per cent of MRN, now controlled by Vale. Hydro will purchase this 40 per cent stake from Vale and promptly sell it to Glencore on a back-to-back basis, following which Hydro will no longer possess a stake in MRN. The bauxite arrangement between Vale and Hydro will be terminated, and Glencore will continue to supply about 30 per cent of Alunorte's long-term bauxite demand from MRN after the transactions. Hydro's 2025 plan, unveiled in 2020, set a clear goal of increasing profitability and driving sustainability across the organisation. As part of...
On Tuesday, April 25, Century Aluminum Company announced a significant step towards acquiring a sizeable share in a joint Jamaican bauxite mining and alumina production venture. The company has reportedly signed an agreement with Noble Group Holdings Limited (Noble) to obtain 55 per cent of its ownership in Jamalco. According to the agreement signed, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Century Aluminum will acquire General Alumina Holdings Limited, a Noble subsidiary and owner of Noble’s 55 per cent interest in Jamalco. The transaction is likely to close by April-end 2023. Century’s investment in Jamalco will prove to be highly strategic, helping the company secure a long-term alumina supply chain, the most critical raw material for aluminium production. Jesse Gary, President and CEO of Century,...
Indonesia's energy and mineral resources industry (ESDM) has assured that the four existing alumina refineries could engross Indonesia's bauxite production when the bauxite export restriction goes into effect in June 2023. An ESDM ministerial staff for mineral and coal management acceleration said, "We will stop bauxite exports for sure." These refineries, which are owned by PT Indonesia Chemical Alumina, PT Bintan Alumina Indonesia , PT Well Harvest Winning Alumina Refinery Line -1 , and PT Well Harvest Winning Alumina Refinery Line -2, can consume mined bauxite and produce record tonnes of alumina, which was never according to the officer. PT Indonesia Chemical Alumina refinery has the capacity to produce 300,000 tonnes of chemical-grade alumina (CGA) per year. In contrast, the PT...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, China's production of metallurgical-grade alumina in March 2023 (31 calendar days) increased by 8.5 per cent month-on-month to total 6.64 million tonnes. In February (28 calendar days), the output stood at 6.12 million tonnes versus 6.37 million tonnes in January. The data indicates that China's domestic alumina production in March stood at the highest in Q1, registering an increase of 4.24 per cent from January (31 calendar days). In the first three months of 2023, China's domestic metallurgical-grade alumina output totalled 19.13 million tonnes – 5.74 per cent more than 18.092 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year. On a year-on-year basis, China's alumina output in March '23 edged an increase of 4.7 per cent from...
The average alumina spot price in China has dropped by RMB 2 per tonne on Wednesday, April 12, after remaining restrained for the past three days at RMB 2,920 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. Data shows the price has come in at RMB 2,918 per tonne as of April 12, marking a month-on-month downtrend of RMB 18 per tonne. In Guizhou, the average alumina price has shrunk by RMB 10 per tonne after a more than a month-long restraint, standing at RMB 2,855 per tonne on April 12. The average prices are likely to range between RMB 2,820 per tonne and RMB 2,890 per tonne. In Shanxi and Guangxi, alumina price has dipped by RMB 5 per tonne to settle at RMB 2,950 per tonne and RMB 2,805 per tonne, respectively. According to SMM, A00 aluminium ingot price has heightened by RMB 60 per tonne...
In South America, alumina production during February 2023 stood at 936,000 tonnes, reflecting a downfall of 9.39 per cent or 97,000 tonnes month-on-month, found the International Aluminium Institute. In January, the output was 1.033 million tonnes, slightly down by 0.86 per cent from 1.042 million tonnes in December 2022. The data indicate that South America’s alumina production in February 2023 marked a second consecutive month of fall at a much higher rate. However, on a year-on-year basis, South America’s alumina output recorded an increase of 8.33 per cent or 72,000 tonnes from 864,000 tonnes. In the first two months of 2023, alumina production in South America totalled 1.969 million tonnes, up by 5.92 per cent from 1.859 million tonnes during the same period last year. In February...
Queensland Government has reportedly offered a grant of up to $2.17 million to Alpha HPA, the Australia-based and globally focused high-purity aluminium products manufacturer. The funding will be used to support Stage 2 of Alpha’s first high-purity alumina facility in Gladstone. In a statement to the ASX on Wednesday, April 5, Alpha said the funding from Queensland Government would support capital expenses for Stage 2 of the high-purity alumina plant. Stage 1 of the plant is currently undergoing a ramp-up to produce the full-range of Alpha’s high-purity materials, receiving support from a $15.5 million Critical Minerals Accelerator Initiative in April 2022. Alpha HPA’s Managing Director Rimas Kairaitis said, “Alpha welcomed the funding, and we welcome the state’s recognition of Alpha’s...
On April 3, scientists from the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar, reported the estimated quantity of rare earth elements that can be recovered from red mud in Odisha, a toxic byproduct generated in abundance during the processing of bauxite into alumina. Rare earth elements are crucial components for electronic and electric systems, devices used to produce green hydrogen, and electric vehicles. It is a known fact that red mud contains rare earth elements, but the amount of elements present depends on the origin of bauxite and how it is processed into alumina. A recent study published in Current Science on March 25 revealed that the fine-grained content of red mud at NALCO’s Damanjodi alumina refinery contained 433 ppm of rare earth elements like cerium,...
Rusal's trade and production workers of its Jamaica facilities at Windalco, Port Esquivel, and Kirkvine have assured to report back to work when the business responds to claims granted by the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT). On April 3, 2022, the workers took strike action in the morning by shutting down operations at the facilities as they held down their demands. The workers stated, "The Company is insisting that they would not be allowed on the compound if they do not sign contracts that reportedly have no provision for pension, redundancy, and overtime payments." "Rusal has also gone back on their promise that they would give five workers $30,000 a year as education assistance. If the company does not provide solutions, everyone will have to wait at the gate." Vincent Morrison, the...
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Alumina production in Europe (inc. Russia) continued to fall during February 2023, marking the seventh consecutive month of decline. According to the International Aluminium Institute, Europe’s (inc. Russia) alumina output in the stated month stood at 492,000 tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month plunge of 4.84 per cent or 25,000 tonnes from 517,000 tonnes. In the previous month, the aluminium ore production in Europe (inc. Russia) amounted to 517,000 tonnes, registering a decrease of 34,000 tonnes or 6.17 per cent from 551,000 tonnes in December 2022. On a year-on-year calculation, alumina production in Europe (inc. Russia) during February 2023 slumped by 36.6 per cent from 776,000 tonnes, found IAI. The annual and monthly decline in Europe’s alumina output could be attributed to output...
The Chinese alumina production capacity was approximately 76.6 million tonnes as of November 2022. AlCircle’s latest report ‘Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023’ states that the nation's alumina refineries used about 79 per cent of their capacity in November 2022 compared to 81 per cent in October 2022. Higher Covid infection rates in China during that time, production restrictions due to environmental issues, and lower operating rates contributed to the reduction. China is anticipated to have produced 6.7 million tonnes of alumina in November 2022, out of which 95 per cent of which was metallurgical quality. Australia is still the world's largest alumina exporter and the second-largest producer. The nation's production was projected to have increased from 20.1 million tonnes in...
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Alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) in the first two months of 2023 amounted to 2.159 million tonnes, reflecting a year-on-year drop of 2.92 per cent from 2.224 million tonnes, found the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). In February 2023, Africa & Asia’s (ex-China) alumina output was 1.04 million tonnes, down by 7.06 per cent from 1.119 million tonnes a month ago. According to IAI, the monthly decline extended during February as January also recorded a dip, albeit at a lower rate, by 0.89 per cent month-on-month from 1.129 million tonnes. On a year-on-year calculation, the alumina output in Africa & Asia (ex-China) during February 2023 also registered a downfall of 3.26 per cent from 1.075 million tonnes. Meanwhile, despite the monthly decline, the average daily...
