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...
Grow with
AL Circle
On February 21, 2022, Alcoa announced that its subsidiary Alcoa of Australia Limited (AoA) had terminated a collaborative development project with FYI Resources Ltd for high-purity alumina (HPA). The global leader in the aluminium sector with a vision to reinvent the industry for a sustainable future, Alcoa announced in 2021 that AoA had executed a binding term sheet with Western Australia-based FYI Resources for development activities to produce HPA, which is used to manufacture materials such as synthetic sapphires used in LED lighting and other various applications. Renato Bacchi, the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, said, "While our work with FYI has demonstrated the merit of the process to produce high-purity alumina, Alcoa has decided not to pursue a...
The Austria-Vienna headquartered global refractory leader RHI Magnesita's CEO Stefan Borgas has stated that the company is investing INR 3,600 crore in the Indian market over the next two-three years to expand its production capacity and modernise facilities. However, Borgas also said that a portion of the company's capital investment of INR 3,600 crore was used to buy two refractory assets in India. The CEO said, "The capital infusion will be through the subsidiary RHI Magnesita India Ltd." "We have earmarked an INR 3,600 crore investment in India. This would go towards organic and inorganic capacity expansion and modernisation of the Indian manufacturing facilities." The company recently acquired Dalmia OCL and Hi-Tech Chemicals' refractory business for INR1,708 crore and INR 621 crore,...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the average alumina spot price in China has dipped for the second day in a row by RMB 3 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,946 per tonne on Thursday, February 16. On a week-on-week calculation, the price is down by RMB 4 per tonne from RMB 2,950 per tonne on February 9, but stands 0.44 per cent or RMB 13 per tonne higher than RMB 2,933 per tonne on January 16. In Guangxi and Shandong, alumina spot price has decreased by RMB 10 per tonne and RMB 5 per tonne, respectively, to settle at RMB 2,870 per tonne and RMB 2,920 per tonne as of Thursday, February 16. But in other major provinces like Henan, Shanxi, and Guizhou, the price has remained restrained at RMB 2,995 per tonne, RMB 2,975 per tonne, and RMB 2,880 per tonne. On the other hand, the Australian...
A contract signed between Hydro Alunorte and Wave Aluminium to construct a plant in Brazil that will process bauxite residue (red mud) to recover commercially valuable materials is expected to be operational by 2024. The facility will be constructed in Hydro Alunorte alumina refinery in Pará, Brazil. The proposed red mud processing facility will initially be able to treat 50,000 tonnes of bauxite residue annually using a novel mix of disruptive technologies. The new method will transform bauxite refuse into a resource and has demonstrated success in laboratory tests. "The preliminary results are highly promising and indicate a revolutionary scenario for the global aluminium industry when converting residue into products," stated Gustavo Emina, CEO of Wave Aluminium. After the bauxite...
According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), alumina production in South America grew by 4.83 per cent month-on-month to stand at 1.042 million tonnes in December 2022. That brought South America’s total output in Q4 2022 to 3.05 million tonnes, up by 3.35 per cent Q-o-Q from 2.951 million tonnes and 3.95 per cent Y-o-Y from 2.934 million tonnes. Going by the IAI data, South America’s alumina output in December 2022 edged a year-on-year hike of 3.78 per cent from 1.004 million tonnes. In the year's second half, alumina production in South America totalled 6.001 million tonnes, reflecting an increase of 6.53 per cent from 5.633 million tonnes in H1 and a hike of 4.11 per cent from 5.764 million tonnes in H2 2021. In the entire year of 2022, South America’s alumina output...
After a feasibility study approved its potential outcomes, USA-based aluminium giant Alcoa is about to set up a steam recycling technology or MVR module focused on reducing emissions. As early as 2021, Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) allotted $11.3 million to run a feasibility study scrutinising the technical and commercial possibility of incorporating Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) powered by renewable energy in Australian alumina refining processes. As the study has yielded positive results, Alcoa is on its way to purifying the next stage of its refinery for the future project by mounting a 4 MW MVR module at the Wagerup alumina refinery located in Western Australia. Alumina is extracted from bauxite which is then thrown into a series of technological processes to...
In January 2023 (31 calendar days), China’s metallurgical-grade alumina production stood at 6.37 million tonnes, registering a drop of 0.93 per cent month-on-month from 6.43 million tonnes, found the Shanghai Metals Market data. On a year-on-year calculation, the output in January recorded an increase of 1.4 per cent from 6.28 million tonnes. SMM data also showed China’s average daily production of alumina decreased by 2,300 tonnes M-o-M to stand at 205,000 tonnes. The domestic installed capacity at the end of the month was 97.75 million tonnes, while the operating capacity was 74.94 million tonnes, implying an average domestic operating rate of 77 per cent. SMM has estimated the net imports of alumina to be 115,000 tonnes at the end of January, with a slight shortage of 97,000 tonnes. In...
According to the International Aluminium Institute, alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) totalled 8.219 million tonnes during 2022, registering a downfall of 20.97 per cent year-on-year from 10.4 million tonnes. In the fourth quarter of 2022, Europe’s aluminium oxide output amounted to 1.722 million tonnes, down by 12.54 per cent from 1.969 million tonnes in the third quarter of the year and 33.72 per cent less than 2.598 million tonnes in Q4 2021. In December 2022, alumina production in Europe stood at 551,000 tonnes, showcasing a decline of 4.51 per cent or 26,000 tonnes from 577,000 tonnes a month ago . On a year-on-year basis, the output recorded a slump of 37.95 per cent from 888,000 tonnes, found IAI. During the second half of 2022, Europe produced 3.691 million tonnes of...
In Africa & Asia (ex-China), alumina production during December 2022 stood at 1.129 million tonnes, bringing the total output in the fourth quarter to 3.349 million tonnes, found the International Aluminium Institute. The monthly production stood restrained M-o-M and 5 per cent lower Y-o-Y than 1.188 million tonnes, while the quarterly output edged a 4.61 per cent decline Q-o-Q than 3.511 million tonnes and a 1.67 per cent dip Y-o-Y than 3.406 million tonnes. According to IAI data, Africa & Asia’s alumina production reflected a slowdown for a significant period in Q4 2022. Although it started with a sequential rise in October by 6.01 per cent to 1.181 million tonnes, it encountered a downfall and then restraint in the two successive months. In the full-year 2022, Africa & Asia (ex-China)...
A report has recently revealed that Iran produced 176,239 tonnes of alumina powder in the nine months of the Iranian calendar year (March 21-December 21, 2022). The report suggests a 1 per cent rise year-on-year from 175,284 tonnes. In the third quarter (September 21-December 21), Iran’s alumina output amounted to 57,394 tonnes, up by 1.50 per cent over a quarter following a downfall in the previous quarter by 9.20 per cent from 62,291 tonnes to 56,554 tonnes. In the first half of the Iranian calendar year, the alumina powder output in Iran totalled 118,845 tonnes, in contrast to 116,192 tonnes during the same period of the previous year. Alumina powder, also known as aluminium oxide due to its chemical compound of aluminium and oxygen, is an inert, odourless, white amorphous material...
Calderys, known globally for its advanced refractory products and services, has become an independent company encompassing the full scope of the High-Temperature Solutions business (HTS) area formerly under Imerys. US-based Platinum Equity owns the new company after completing regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Calderys specialize in thermal protection for industrial equipment with a wide range of refractory products and advanced solutions to enhance steel casting, metallurgical fluxes and moulding processes. With a global network of experts and 36 industrial sites in 16 countries, Calderys leverages over a century of experience, a worldwide reach and a truly diverse team, to continuously innovate and offer a best-in-class end-to-end solution tailored to customers’...
According to the International Aluminium Institute, world alumina production in 2022 totalled 139.02 million tonnes, reflecting a marginal growth of 0.31 per cent from 138.587 million tonnes last year. China, the world’s leading alumina producer, contributed the highest to 2022 output by producing 78.695 million tonnes versus 75.259 million tonnes in 2021. That was an increase of 4.57 per cent in China’s annual alumina production in 2022. However, IAI shows China’s alumina production in the fourth quarter of 2022 recorded a 3.31 per cent drop to 20.025 million tonnes from 20.71 million tonnes in Q3 2022; nonetheless registered a hike of 7.38 per cent on the year from 18.649 million tonnes. World alumina production in Q4 also stood lower over the quarter, from 35.621 million tonnes to...
As the transition to vehicle electrification and renewable energy sources accelerates, Geomega Resources Inc., the proponent of the first sustainable rare earth recycling facility in the world to help meet rising global magnet demand, has announced that it has secured a $3 million grant from the Technoclimat Program, administered by the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP), towards the construction of the magnet recycling facility. The technology company added, "We are pleased to provide a technical update on the magnet recycling demonstration plant and the bauxite residues pilot plant." The construction of the magnet recycling demonstration facility, with a throughput capacity of 1.5 tonnes per day of feed material, will benefit...
The largest state of Australia, West Australia's water authority, announced that they would curtail mining giant Alcoa's water licence by a third due to unsustainable water demands in the region. Simone McGurk, the WA Water Minister, claimed that a 23 per cent drop in rainfall had led to significant changes in licensed water in the Murray region in the state's southwest. In addition to cutting the region's access to future available water by 40 per cent, the updated allocations for the Murray groundwater area, located an hour south of Perth, are currently being reviewed to determine if further reductions are needed. However, it implies that groundwater and shallow aquifer water are only available in places like Pinjarra and Nambeelup. Jane O'Malley, the CEO of Peel-Harvey Catchment...
According to an official, Iran has begun researching the possibility of producing 500,000 tonnes of alumina annually from low-grade bauxite with Chinese assistance. On January 23, 2023, Turaj Zar'e, the Managing Director of Iran Alumni Company (IAC), said, "The initial phase of studies was done with the Chinese, and we are conducting the second phase of the studies." He claimed that once the goal is met, Iran will be self-sufficient in alumina. "80 per cent of Iran's demand for alumina is met with imports which cost the country $1 billion a year", the MD added. According to Zar'e, the country's bauxite resources could be of better quality; hence, they are unsuitable for alumina powder production. Iran's most remarkable bauxite deposit is located in the northeastern province of North...
The green industrial tech company IB2 founded by Yves Occello, has developed a green and innovative technology allowing alumina refineries to process and valuate low-grade bauxite ores. Many alumina refineries have so far chosen to import bauxite rather than utilize close-by local resources because the depletion of high-quality local resources constrains them. IB2 provides these refineries with a real alternative, making low-grade bauxite viable through its revolutionary and environment-friendly process. Thus, beyond the financial and strategic benefits generated by IB2 Technology, refineries will dramatically improve their carbon footprint and fully participate in the circular economy. Indeed, the IB2 technology not only reduces wastes but also evaluates them through producing a highly...
One of the UK’s leading manufacturers of specialist metals and materials has signed a new commercial agreement with Advanced Energy Minerals (AEM) to support its growing order book in the academic and research sectors. Goodfellow Ltd, which recently delivered materials to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for the Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough that shook the world, will work with the Canadian company to build high-purity alumina powders into its growing range. The transatlantic deal gives the Huntingdon-based firm exclusivity for sales denominations of up to 20kg per line, covering nine high purity-alumina powders, 5 gamma powders and 4 alpha powders. Mark Fenton, the Chief Operating Officer of Goodfellow, commented, “This agreement will provide access to new materials whilst also...
Rio Tinto seemed quite pleased with the Albanese government’s fundamental emissions-reduction policy for supplying vital support to heavy industries since it was aware of the environmental impact that the high-carbon east-coastal alumina units were causing. Rio Tinto knows that its refineries and smelters are the most ginormous sources of greenhouse gases (GHG), and it is inevitable that from July 1, they will witness strict emission caps. This was made clear through a draft released by the Government on January 10, titled, ‘Safeguard Mechanism’. Somehow, Rio Tinto’s Australian chief executive, Kellie Parker, lauded the step by the Government and displayed her gratitude for the support it would lend to heavy energy-intensive industries. She claimed this was “at the heart of today’s...
