The active procurement of Australian bauxite and Brazilian alumina by factories in the Middle East and South Asia indicates that the flow of overseas bauxite and alumina remains misaligned. The price of bulk ore continues to rise sharply, with both high and low-temperature bauxite from Guinea reaching quotes above $100 per ton, and the seriousness of some orders has clearly declined. Additionally, with the recent increase in caustic soda prices, the alumina production cost in the Jin-Yu region is expected to exceed the 3,500 yuan/ton benchmark, with some companies’ future costs approaching 4,000 yuan/ton. Overall, the spot market remains stable, and the benchmark transaction price in Shanxi remains around 5,750 yuan/ton.
