SMM, February 21:
In the latter part of this week, overseas alumina transaction prices declined further, while domestic spot alumina prices in northern China rebounded slightly, and the alumina export window may gradually close. On February 20, 30,000 mt of alumina was transacted in Western Australia at a transaction price of $485/mt FOB. On February 21, 10,000 mt of spot alumina was transacted in Henan at a transaction price of 3,400 yuan/mt; 3,000 mt of spot alumina was transacted in Shandong at a transaction price of 3,415 yuan/mt; and 2,000 mt of spot alumina was transacted in Guangxi at a transaction price of 3,400 yuan/mt. Based on an alumina price of approximately 3,400 yuan/mt and assuming port and miscellaneous fees of around 200 yuan/mt, the domestic FOB port price for alumina is estimated at approximately 3,600 yuan/mt, equivalent to about $495/mt, which is higher than the latest transaction price of $485/mt for Western Australian alumina. The export window may gradually close.
