Indonesia’s Well Harvest Winning and Cita Mineral Investindo agree on bauxite supply deal

The Government of Guinea has ordered a complete clean-up of mining licenses: President Dumbuya instructed on 8 May that all mining rights of non-compliant companies should be revoked, and has revoked the licenses of two defunct mines, Guiter Mining and Kebo Energy, on 9 May. Officials have also initiated an itemized verification of all project milestones, refinery construction, and FODEL payments; companies that fail to build, pay, or complete ESIAs within the timeframe face steep fines and even the revocation of their mining rights.

China’s imports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium semis in July exceeded exports for the first time since 2009 as it has successfully contained the coronavirus outbreak earlier than other countries. China imported 391,237 mt of unwrought aluminium and aluminium semis in July, and exported 373,400 mt, according to customs data.  

China imported 9.54 million mt of bauxite in May, down 3.98% from the previous month but up 3.57% from the same month of 2019, according to China customs data under HS code 26060000.

China’s copper cathode output continued to rise in May after some of the smelters recovered from maintenance.

China's imports of bauxite, the main ore source of aluminium and which has to be first refined into alumina, rose to a record high in the March quarter, due to greater demand and lower sea freight costs.

China’s copper cathode output in March increased even as secondary copper production continued to contract due to the unfavourable price spread between copper cathode and copper scrap, in addition to copper scrap supply issues. The global outbreak of COVID-19 took a toll on copper scrap supply from Malaysia.

Last year, the Republic of Guinea, Australia, and Indonesia remained the top three bauxite exporters to China, with their combined volume accounting for over 94% of the China’s total bauxite imports

China produced 5.87 million mt of alumina in December, with metallurgical-grade materials accounting for 5.62 million mt

China imported 6.75 million mt of bauxite in Sep, down 21.86% month on month and 2.08% year on year