Malaysian bauxite prices lack momentum to go up quickly
2015-07-01 09:50:41 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 1 Jul 15 - A small number of Malaysian bauxite suppliers held on from sale in June and raised offers by USD2/t to USD32/t FOB Malaysia for bauxite Al 40-41% Si 5%max. However, Chinese buyers refused to accept the price increase. It is difficult for the price to climb up quickly.
A Malaysian bauxite supplier reported that they exported around 200,000t of bauxite in May, but had no deal in June, as they raised offer by USD2/t to USD32/t FOB Malaysia for bauxite Al 40-41% Si 5%max. “Chinese consumers cannot accept our new offer, so we have no export in June,” said the source.
Given the declining Malaysian bauxite supply and costs increase, the source believed that prices may edge up by USD1-2/t. However, big Chinese alumina refineries hold sufficient inventories and demand from small refineries is limited. “We hold around 150,000t of bauxite in stock,” said the source.
A Malaysian bauxite importer in China said that they purchased around 1.3 million tonnes of bauxite in June and the mainstream price remains stable at around USD29.5/t FOB Malaysia for low grade bauxite. “There are many bauxite suppliers in Malaysia, so it is difficult for the price go up,” explained the source. In addition, Indian bauxite supply will recover in October after the rainy season, noted the source.
The source pointed out that Chinese bauxite import volume in July may slide down due to the Lesser Bairam holiday in Malaysia. “Our import volume may decline by around 300,000t in July,” said the source.
A Malaysian bauxite supplier reported that they exported around 200,000t of bauxite in May, but had no deal in June, as they raised offer by USD2/t to USD32/t FOB Malaysia for bauxite Al 40-41% Si 5%max. “Chinese consumers cannot accept our new offer, so we have no export in June,” said the source.
Given the declining Malaysian bauxite supply and costs increase, the source believed that prices may edge up by USD1-2/t. However, big Chinese alumina refineries hold sufficient inventories and demand from small refineries is limited. “We hold around 150,000t of bauxite in stock,” said the source.
A Malaysian bauxite importer in China said that they purchased around 1.3 million tonnes of bauxite in June and the mainstream price remains stable at around USD29.5/t FOB Malaysia for low grade bauxite. “There are many bauxite suppliers in Malaysia, so it is difficult for the price go up,” explained the source. In addition, Indian bauxite supply will recover in October after the rainy season, noted the source.
The source pointed out that Chinese bauxite import volume in July may slide down due to the Lesser Bairam holiday in Malaysia. “Our import volume may decline by around 300,000t in July,” said the source.
Alumina 98.5%min FOB Australia
Unit:USD/mt
China alumina producers' sales to production ratio statistics by province by month
Unit: %
