Bauxite Market Tightly Balanced as Negotiations Continue and Prices Fluctuate

SMM, February 14:

Currently, the bauxite upstream and downstream sectors remain in a state of negotiation, with no recent reports of transactions involving imported bauxite from Guinea. Alumina prices have yet to stabilize, and under cost pressure, alumina refineries may find it difficult to accept imported bauxite from Guinea priced above $100/mt.

Supply and demand fundamentals: On the demand side, only small-scale alumina capacity reductions or technological transformations are expected in northern regions, with no signs of large-scale production cuts in alumina. Coupled with the raw material demand from newly commissioned capacities, bauxite demand remains high. On the supply side, Guinea's bauxite import volume is expected to continue growing, while imports from Australia may decline due to the impact of the rainy season. Overall, the bauxite market is in a tight balance. Sellers of bauxite still show a sentiment to stand firm on quotes, and there are currently few offers below $100/mt in the market.

In the short term, imported bauxite prices are expected to fluctuate.