
According to the latest report released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on October 22, China’s alumina output in September increased by a healthy 8.2% year on year to 5.81 million tonnes. The volume also recorded a 3.9% growth month on month from August output of 5.59 million tonnes.
With the increased September output, the total alumina production during the first nine months of 2018 stands at 50.57 million tonnes, registering a growth of 3.4% from the same period of 2017.
{alcircleadd}The on-month increase seems to relate to the climb in alumina prices last month, driven by the temporary closure of Hydro’s Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil and uncertainties surrounding U.S. sanction on Rusal.

September average spot alumina price (RMB/t)
The monthly average spot price for domestic alumina surged RMB 185 per tonne (US$27/t) month on month to RMB 3302 per tonne (US$ 475.32/t) in September from RMB 3117 per tonne (US$ 449/t) in August.
Alumina production increase was also driven by the jump in exports by China as international alumina prices also touched a new high in September. The monthly average Australian alumina FOB price for September stood at US$ 602.05 per tonne.
According to China Customs data, China's exports of alumina increased more than fivefold from August to 166,000 tonnes in September, the highest monthly volume in 2018. Net exports of alumina in September stood at 136,000 tonnes.
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