Metro Mining
Metro Mining reviews 2026 bauxite guidance after channel disruption and staffing setbacks
Metro Mining Limited is reviewing its full-year 2026 shipment guidance after operational disruptions at its Bauxite Hills Mine in Queensland, Australia, constrained barging capacity and equipment utilisation. The company shipped 659,000 tonnes of bauxite in September, bringing year-to-date shipments to 4.013 million tonnes. In an operational update dated October 12, 2026, Metro Mining said a sand-bank collapse reduced the depth of its barging channel from 1.8 metres to 1.3 metres during September, limiting the movement of bauxite. The company is implementing mitigation measures to address the disruption and said it would provide an update on calendar-year volume guidance as soon as possible, if required. Staff absenteeism and turnover also affected operations during the month, as the mine...
Metro Mining’s concern over Rio Tinto’s Aurukun plans brings 3.1Bt bauxite in focus
Metro Mining has raised concerns over Rio Tinto’s proposed acquisition of the Aurukun bauxite project in Cape York, warning that the leases could remain undeveloped under the mining giant’s ownership. Metro Mining Managing Director Simon Wensley mentioned that Rio Tinto already controls a 3.1 billion-tonne bauxite resource on Cape York, enough to suffice for around 75 years of production at current levels. Metro questions another change of hands Speaking at a recent Association of Mining and Exploration Companies meeting in Brisbane, Wensley noted that Rio could land bank the Aurukun leases, following a similar pattern under Glencore, which had held them for 14 years. Metro Mining is seeking to delay the proposed transfer of the leases from Glencore to Rio Tinto. In September, Rio...
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15th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition - IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
ICSOBA 2026 - 44th International Conference and Exhibition
SMM AICE 2026 Southeast Asia Aluminum Conference
15th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition - IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
ICSOBA 2026 - 44th International Conference and Exhibition
SMM AICE 2026 Southeast Asia Aluminum Conference
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
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AL Circle Analysis: Bauxite developments, alumina trade & primary aluminium market dynamics across Australia, Guinea, US & India
The aluminium industry is entering another phase of supply-chain repositioning. Across bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium, companies are investing in new resources, consolidating strategic assets and expanding processing capacity, while governments are increasingly treating domestic supply as a strategic priority. The latest developments from Australia, Guyana, Guinea, Indonesia, the US and India point to a market where resource security, processing location and control over supply chains are becoming as important as production growth. At the same time, new trading mechanisms and changing investment patterns are beginning to influence how aluminium and its raw materials reach the market. Bauxite supply expands, but securing the right tonnes is becoming harder In Western Australia, VBX...
Metro Mining ships 756,000 WMT of bauxite in August as Ikamba returns to full strength
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...
Metro Mining builds bauxite momentum with record output, lower costs and broader sales
Metro Mining's Bauxite Hills operation delivered record quarterly production as lower unit costs and a broader customer base strengthen its growth profile. Metro Mining is building momentum at its Bauxite Hills bauxite mine in Queensland, with record quarterly output, lower unit costs and improving cash generation signalling progress from the operation's earlier ramp-up phase. The Australian producer is targeting 6.6 million to 7.1 million tonnes of production for the full year, with the latest quarter showing that investments in mining, barging and export infrastructure are translating into higher throughput. The operation produces direct-shipping bauxite for alumina refiners, with China continuing to account for most demand. However, Metro is also expanding its customer base, including...
Metro Mining ships 700k WMT in July as waste stripping jumps 140%
Australian bauxite exploration and mining company Metro Mining shipped 700,000 wet metric tonnes (WMT) of bauxite from its Bauxite Hills Mine in Queensland in July 2026. Year-to-date waste stripping reached 1 million bank cubic metres (BCM), up 140 per cent year-on-year. The announcement, released in Metro Mining’s operational update, was approved by CEO and Managing Director, Simon Wensley. Metro Mining's July shipment volume stood at 700,000 WMT, despite a temporary interruption at its offshore floating terminal (OFT) Ikamba. Compared with the June shipment volume of 779,000 tonnes , the July shipment volume records a 10.14 per cent month-on-month dip. As regards the annual comparison with the same period of the previous year, the July 2025 shipments amounted to 714,000 WMT, indicating...
Metro Mining achieves record 1.8m WMT Q2 bauxite shipments despite cyclone disruption
Metro Mining has reported record quarterly bauxite shipments for the three months ended June 30, 2026, despite operational disruptions caused by Tropical Cyclone Narelle and the temporary dry-docking of its Offshore Floating Terminal (OFT) Ikamba. The company shipped 1.8 million wet metric tonnes (WMT) of bauxite during the quarter, up 7 per cent from the corresponding period of 2025, while maintaining its full-year shipment guidance of 6.6-7.1 million WMT. Chief Executive Officer Simon Wensley said, “In June, we demonstrated proof of concept of our new integrated planning and operating system and aligned management structure, thanks to focused efforts from Metro and contractor teams.” He added, “Achievement of record Q2 output was pleasing given the post-cyclone recovery and the absence...
Metro Mining’s June bauxite shipments jump 29% as Q2 volumes hit record 1.8 million WMT
Australia-based bauxite producer Metro Mining closed June 2026 with a sharp month-on-month increase in shipments from its Bauxite Hills Mine in North Queensland, while higher quarterly volumes and a substantial rise in waste stripping marked the company’s second-quarter operational performance. The company shipped 779,000 wet metric tonnes (WMT) of bauxite in June 2026, a 29 per cent increase from May. During the first three weeks of the month, Metro recorded lower supply-chain variability following the introduction of its new integrated planning and operating system. Operations, however, faced disruption in the final week of June after Crane 1 on the OFT Ikamba experienced downtime. According to the operational update, debris material contaminated the crane’s hydraulic cylinder system....
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