Alcoa Declares Force Majeure on Bauxite Shipments From Brazil's Juruti Port Due to Grounded Vessel

**[Alcoa Announces Force Majeure on Bauxite Shipments Due to Grounded Vessel]** Alcoa, the American aluminum company, stated on Thursday that it has suspended bauxite shipments from the port of Juruti in Brazil due to a Panamax vessel carrying bauxite running aground in a waterway. An Alcoa spokesperson said that the company has declared force majeure on bauxite from its Juruti operations as the impassable waterway has hindered its ability to supply customers. The statement did not indicate when shipments would resume.

A trader source reported that the vessel has been stranded near the port of Juruti since late October and has not moved for nearly ten days.

The Juruti bauxite mine currently has an annual production capacity of approximately 6 million tons, supplying ore to Alcoa's Aluminio SA and Alumar alumina refineries in Brazil.