Global bauxite flows are expected to weaken in the fourth quarter of 2026 as China’s front-loading eases and Guinea’s export restrictions begin to constrain shipments . Despite a 2.8 per cent year-on-year rise in global flows in September, softer import requirements in India and the Arabian Gulf could limit demand, leaving China as the principal destination for seaborne bauxite but with little room for further growth. September flows hint at diverging regional trends Global bauxite flows reached 20.4 million tonnes in September 2026, up 2.8 per cent year-on-year, backed by higher shipments from Guinea. Month-on-month flows declined, in line with seasonal wet-weather conditions that typically restrict port movements. Guinea’s shipments to the market were more than 20 per cent higher than...
China's domestic bauxite prices held steady last week. Supply tightness at China's inland mines persisted, prompting some traders to blend and sell ores sourced from Turkey and Pakistan. Meanwhile, the sharp decline in ocean freight rates restored arbitrage margins for bauxite from non-mainstream origins; imports from origins compatible with domestic bauxite blending are likely to rise. In terms of imported bauxite, freight rates showed no sign of bottoming out. Rates on the Baltic Exchange C3 route fell to around US USD 30 per tonne, with November-loading vessel offers quoted near US USD 29 per tonne. The sustained freight drop revived shipment plans for small and mid-sized Guinean miners, pointing to potential supply ramp-up for Guinean bauxite. Guinean ore offers increased markedly...
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Hanne Simensen will become Executive Vice President (EVP) for Bauxite & Alumina at Norsk Hydro, effective November 1, 2026, succeeding John Thuestad, who is stepping down after eight years in the role. Simensen joined Hydro in 1994 and has held several senior positions across the company. She has served as EVP for Aluminium Metal since 2024, following earlier roles as EVP for People & HSE, Senior Vice President (SVP) and Head of Aluminium Metal Commercial, and SVP and Director of Global Business Services. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: "Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook" She holds a Master of Management from BI Norwegian Business School. Thuestad, 66, has served as...
US imports of bauxite and other aluminum ores and concentrates fell 14.5% year-on-year to $68.46 million in the first half (H1) of 2026, according to Trade Map data. In terms of volumes, however, imports rose 6.9% year-on-year to 1.27 million metric tons, from 1.19 million metric tons in H1 2025. The decline in value followed a 5.7% increase during H1 2025. The H1 2026 import value was also 9.7% below the $75.77 million recorded in H1 2024, while volume was 8.3% lower than the 1.39 million metric tons recorded that year. US bauxite imports weaken in both quarters of H1 2026 Q2 2026 import volume increased 7.8% year-on-year to 643,950 metric tons from 597,195 metric tons. In contrast, import value reached $30.61 million in Q2 2026, down 10.7% from $34.28 million in Q2 2025 and 6.2% from...
Canyon Resources’ plans to bring its Minim Martap bauxite project in Cameroon into production, have been thrown into fresh uncertainty after AFG Bank Cameroon suspended further drawdowns from the project’s syndicated financing facility. The bank suspended access to the remaining funds on August 24, 2026, pending a review of the project’s development schedule, financial model and underlying economic assumptions. The move comes as Canyon acknowledges that it will not meet its Phase 1 development timetable and has removed its previous first-shipment target without setting a new date. For a project that had been targeting its first bauxite shipment in the fourth quarter of 2026, the change is significant. Canyon has also moved to reduce non-essential spending while it works through the...
Leading Indian aluminium producer Vedanta has renewed its push to revive bauxite mining at Odisha’s Niyamgiri hills, about 13 years after the proposed project was shelved. With Niyamgiri hosting around 80 million tonnes of bauxite reserves, the renewed proposal brings the resource potential of the Kalahandi-Rayagada belt back into focus. Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal discussed reopening the Niyamgiri bauxite mining project with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Bhubaneswar on September 26. Agarwal mentioned that the discussion addressed employment opportunities for involved tribal communities. “Today it was discussed for reopening of Niyamgiri. The affected tribals should be given jobs,” Agarwal stated. The state government also indicated that steps would be taken towards the...
Russia-based aluminium producer RUSAL is exploring a potential sale of its Windalco bauxite and alumina operations in Jamaica, signalling a possible reshaping of its Caribbean footprint. The reported move also extends to its bauxite interests in Guyana, although both potential transactions remain at an early stage and may not ultimately proceed. Windalco becomes part of RUSAL’s potential asset reshuffle Windalco comprises the Ewarton alumina refinery in St Catherine, bauxite mines and the Port Esquivel shipping terminal. According to RUSAL’s 2025 annual report, the Jamaican operation produced 1.565 million tonnes of bauxite and 396,000 tonnes of alumina in 2025. The alumina output represented less than 6 per cent of RUSAL’s total alumina production of 6.858 million tonnes during the year....
The Canyon Resources’ subsidiary has acquired 42.8 per cent of Douala Port Timber Terminal, adding a port interest to its existing railway stake as it develops a planned route for Minim-Martap bauxite. Camalco Cameroon is extending its position in the logistics network being planned for the Minim-Martap bauxite project, acquiring a 42.8 per cent stake in Douala Port Timber Terminal (TBPD). The investment adds a port-related interest to its existing shareholding in Camrail, the railway operator expected to form part of the project’s transport route. The acquisition was completed through a capital increase at TBPD, rather than the purchase of shares from existing shareholders. Camalco invested XAF 347.447 million (USD 604,000), subscribing to newly issued shares reserved entirely for the...
Vedanta Aluminium presented 24 technical papers and secured three Best Paper Awards at IBAAS 2026 in Jharsuguda, highlighting its work across aluminium smelting, alumina refining, sustainability, alloy development and resource recovery. The 14th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference and Exhibition (IBAAS 2026), held in Jharsuguda, brought together industry leaders, researchers, technology providers, policymakers and academics to discuss the future of the aluminium industry under the theme, ‘Global Aluminium Outlook 2030: Secure Resources, Efficient Energy and Value from Wastes’. Vedanta Aluminium’s participation covered a broad range of technologies and applications, including artificial intelligence, digitalisation, alumina refining, aluminium smelting, sustainability,...
Stretch a line from the Red Sea through the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean all the way to the Atlantic coast, and you'll pass through a decade-old network of ports, long-term concessions, roads, and logistics corridors built by a single Gulf state. The common thread running through the United Arab Emirates is bauxite mines, the raw ore behind aluminium production, sit alongside renewable energy plants, and data centres. On 20 September 2026, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, put a number on that footprint sharing that the UAE investment in Africa is approaching USD 150 billion, with annual two-way trade now exceeding USD 107 billion. He framed the expansion as part of Abu Dhabi’s push to build direct ties with the continent, bypassing traditional Western...
Alcoa Corporation has completed a USD 2.6 billion senior notes offering, securing permanent debt financing for the cash component of its proposed acquisition of South32’s bauxite, alumina and aluminium assets. The offering, which closed on September 23, comprises USD 1.5 billion of 6.63 per cent senior notes due 2034 issued by Alumina Pty Ltd and USD 1.1 billion of 6.88 per cent senior notes due 2036 issued by Alcoa Nederland Holding B.V. Both issuers are wholly owned subsidiaries of Alcoa, while the notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Alcoa and certain of its subsidiaries. USD 2.6 billion debt backs cash consideration Alcoa intends to combine the net proceeds from the notes with cash on hand to finance the approximately USD 3.1 billion cash portion of the consideration...
VBX is reshaping the development strategy for its Wuudagu bauxite project, in Western Australia raising AUD 7 million (USD 5 million) to advance its definitive feasibility study (DFS) while ending an indicative prepayment and offtake deal with thyssenkrupp Materials Trading Asia (TKMTA). The Wuudagu bauxite DFS is now expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027, later than the previously targeted second half of 2026. VBX said the additional time and funding will allow it to incorporate cost and schedule improvements identified by preferred contractors and potential project partners. The funding package comprises AUD 4.5 million (USD 3.2 million) in firm commitments from new and existing strategic and institutional investors at AUD 0.64 (USD 0.46) per share, along with the...
Eighteen Jamaican students have returned home after completing engineering degrees in Russia, bringing new technical skills back to the country’s bauxite and mining sector. The students completed their engineering programmes at Siberian Federal University in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, under a fully funded international scholarship programme backed by UC RUSAL Alumina Jamaica Ltd./WINDALCO. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: "Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook" The latest cohort was awarded the scholarships in November 2021. After completing their studies, the graduates returned to Jamaica in August and have since taken up roles with the bauxite and mining company. The new...
US-based Strategic Bauxite Inc. is preparing to expand its refractory-grade bauxite operations in Guyana after acquiring Guyana-based First Bauxite LLC in July. The company’s plans were discussed during a recent meeting between US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot and Strategic Bauxite executives. The proposed investment is expected to expand mining and processing capacity in the country while strengthening the supply of refractory-grade bauxite. The expansion is backed by USD 85.5 million in US government equity funding through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) programme, alongside USD 64.5 million in private-sector co-investment. Guyana mine and calcination capacity to expand According to the US Embassy, the combined USD 150 million investment will support an...
Metro Mining has ramped up bauxite shipments from its Bauxite Hills Mine in Cape York, Far North Queensland, after its offshore floating terminal Ikamba returned to full strength in late July. The Australian bauxite producer shipped 756,000 wet metric tonnes (WMT) of bauxite in August 2026, marking an 8 per cent increase from July, according to its September 16 operational and marketing update. The August performance also put the spotlight on Ikamba’s ability to operate independently. With the offshore floating terminal back at full capacity, it handled the month’s shipments without the contribution of the TSA Skardon, which was undergoing dry-docking. The TSA Skardon has now completed its dry-docking and is scheduled to return to site in mid-September, just as shipping conditions are...
Alcoa’s proposed acquisition of South32’s assets is expected to improve its position on the aluminium industry cost curve while expanding its operations across bauxite, alumina and aluminium. The transaction includes a bauxite mine and alumina refinery in Western Australia, located next to Alcoa’s existing operations. It also covers South32’s minority interests in the Alumar smelter and refinery in Brazil, along with the Hillside aluminium smelter in South Africa. Alcoa Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Molly Beerman said the assets were a strong strategic fit with the company’s existing portfolio. Hillside uses technology already operating at two Alcoa smelters, allowing the company to apply its existing technical and operational expertise to the acquired assets. Alcoa...
The bauxite and alumina industry has been busy repositioning itself on several fronts. Companies are expanding mining and smelting capacity, exploring new resource regions and moving towards higher-value products, while governments are stepping in to protect strategically important alumina assets. At the same time, changing trade flows and softer regional premiums are offering a mixed picture for buyers and sellers. The developments point to a common industry response: secure more supply, diversify where it comes from and capture more value from each tonne. Companies are expanding, but not in the same direction Growth plans across the industry show that producers are taking different routes to strengthen their positions. Ashapura Minechem is expanding its Guinea bauxite operations while...
Ghana has stepped up efforts to attract Australian investment into its growing critical minerals sector, pitching the country as a stable and reform-driven destination for mining and value-added mineral development at the 2026 Africa Down Under (ADU) Summit in Perth. The Ghanaian delegation was led by High Commissioner to Australia Doris Brese and Maxwell Yao Akpene Klu, Deputy Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission in charge of Small Scale & Industrial Minerals. Addressing mining executives, financiers and policymakers, Klu said Ghana is looking to move beyond its traditional gold dominance and position itself as a strategic partner in battery minerals and green technologies. “Our country is not just about extracting resources, we are committed to a paradigm shift in mining, one that...
Ashapura Minechem is preparing for its next phase of growth by expanding its Guinea bauxite operations while shifting its Indian business towards higher-value mineral products. The company is targeting 15 million tonnes of annual bauxite volumes by FY28, a level management believes could generate nearly INR 100 billion (USD 1.05 billion) in revenue from the bauxite business alone, depending on bauxite prices, freight costs and operating conditions. The expansion is being supported by additional port capacity in Guinea, while Ashapura is investing in products for applications including foundry, oil and gas, paints, paper and cat litter to broaden its earnings base. Guinea bauxite expansion takes centre stage Ashapura expects Guinea bauxite exports of 9–11 million tonnes in FY27, compared...
The acquisition gives Rio Tinto control of a major undeveloped Cape York resource as it expands its existing Weipa operations and advances new mining areas. Rio Tinto is expanding its Cape York bauxite portfolio by acquiring the Aurukun bauxite project from Glencore and Mitsubishi, adding a potential source of up to 8 million dry tonnes of export bauxite per year to its regional pipeline. The transaction, for an undisclosed price, gives Rio control of the greenfields project located about 23 kilometres north-east of Aurukun and 35 kilometres south of Weipa. The deal remains subject to Queensland Government and other regulatory approvals. Under the development plans previously advanced by Glencore and Mitsubishi, Aurukun could produce up to 15 million tonnes per year of run-of-mine...
