Domestic Ports See 840,000 MT Rise in Bauxite Inventory

According to SMM surveys, although prices from Brazil and Argentina have pulled back slightly, overall price levels remain high. Going forward, the import market will continue to feature diversified sources and persistent differentiation in price spreads by country and product category.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade has issued Ministerial Decision No.105 of 2026, introducing a four-month temporary export ban on certain industrial wastes and scrap metals, including aluminum scrap under several HS 7602 codes. The measure takes effect seven working days after issuance, while shipments under previously signed international contracts may apply for exemptions. Aluminum scrap was previously subject to an export fee of AED 100/t (US$27/t). The move reflects the UAE's efforts to retain raw materials domestically and promote local value-added processing, with potential implications for Asian scrap markets, particularly India and South Korea.