Brazilian alumina exports rise 62% in August

Brazilian alumina exports grew by 62.24% year on year in August on higher shipments, in particular from northeastern Maranhão state, where the Alumar refinery is located, according to data published by the economy ministry on Monday September 5.

Total alumina exports from Brazil totaled 908,008 tonnes in August, significantly up from 559,668 tonnes in the corresponding period of 2021.

Volumes from Belém port, in northern Pará state, were 516,803 tonnes, up 25.55% from 411,629 tonnes a year earlier. But most of the overall growth came from a 170.43% annual increase in shipments via the São Luís port, in Maranhão, which exported 388,204 tonnes, up from 143,551 tonnes.

The Alunorte refinery, owned by Norsk Hydro, operates in Pará state. Alumar, whose shareholders are Alcoa, South32, Rio Tinto and Alumina Ltd, is located in Maranhão.

During August, export revenues totaled $350.6 million, rising by 119.96% from $159.4 million a year earlier, the ministry said. Average prices on an fob basis were $386.14 per tonne, 35.57% higher than $284.82 per tonne in August last year.

Fastmarkets calculated its alumina index, fob Australia at $325.98 per tonne on Monday, up by 0.11% from $325.63 per tonne on September 2. It averaged $329.08 per tonne in August, an 8.57% increase from $303.10 per tonne the year before.

Fastmarkets’ alumina index inferred, fob Brazil was calculated at $360.93 per tonne on Monday, up by 0.10% from $360.58 per tonne on September 2.

The inferred index was at $365.63 per tonne on average during August, 13.46% higher than $322.25 per tonne in the corresponding period of 2021.

Brazilian exports of bauxite totaled 369,261 tonnes in August, falling by 16.72% from 443,417 tonnes one year earlier, according to the ministry’s data.

What to read next
When packaging inputs, agricultural markets, energy and freight costs move simultaneously, siloed buying becomes harder to manage. Learn how Fastmarkets market intelligence supports procurement teams
As CBAM and the EU ETS reshape cost structures across Europe’s automotive supply chains, OEMs are under growing pressure to protect margins while navigating opaque carbon pass-through.
A developing El Niño weather pattern is drawing fresh attention across European metals markets at a moment when the continent‘s energy infrastructure is already under acute stress – and for producers and traders in secondary aluminium and ferrous scrap, the implications are hard to ignore.
The amendment follows the decision made on May 14, after a consultation period for the proposed changes which took place between April 3 and May 11. The changes were first proposed in a pricing note published on April 3.  The purpose of the changes is to align the publication times to the activity in the […]
The proposal follows Fastmarkets’ observations that the commodity sees inactive spot liquidity and low volatility in prices. The proposed new specifications for the prices are as follows, with the amendments in italics: MB-NI-0246 Nickel sulfate, cif Japan and Korea, $/tonneQuality: Accepted by buyer for use in battery applications with chemical composition: Ni content, base 22.3% […]
Based on preliminary market feedback, market participants noted that smaller-sized spot market transactions may be skewed and not reflective of the wider market. The aluminium P1020A(MJP), cif Japan, assessment specification which has a minimum tonnage of 100 tonnes will be amended to 500 tonnes after the proposed change. The proposed new specifications are as follows, […]