India's push toward the beneficiation of low-grade iron ore could result in new trade patterns emerging in the future if implemented, market sources told Fastmarkets this week

The alumina sector is continuing to grapple with rising costs and weakening market conditions, while the Atlantic differential could switch direction due to refinery production cuts and aluminium smelter closures, sources told Fastmarkets.

China’s alumina exports into Russia jumped again in May amid steady demand from the latter country to plug its shortfall due to its invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions against it

Some alumina refineries in China were finding it difficult to make profits in the face of higher production costs and falling alumina prices, raising the risk of production cuts in the future, Fastmarkets heard on Thursday June 9

Dwindling demand and differing supply situations between regions pressured aluminium billet premiums down or kept them unchanged across the world on Wednesday June 1, with clear bearishness slowly taking over global markets

The benchmark aluminium premium in the United States returned to its recent peak, amid rising offers to consumers and bullish sentiment in the US, after Australia banned sales of alumina to Russia.

The publication of Fastmarkets’ monthly US/Europe calcined alumina price assessments was delayed from Thursday March 3 due to a reporter error.

Fastmarkets has corrected the pricing rationale for its fob Australia alumina index (MB-ALU-0002), which was published incorrectly on Wednesday December 8 due to a reporter error.