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Guinea
China
India
AustraliaQ1 2025
In Q1 2025, bauxite prices surged by $73.48 per metric ton FOB Kamsar, marking a 27.61% increase driven by a combination of supply disruptions and strong global demand. Key supply-side constraints, including mining slowdowns in major producing countries and logistical bottlenecks, reduced available inventories, while demand remained robust from downstream industries such as aluminum production, construction, and automotive particularly fueled by the global shift toward electric vehicles and infrastructure expansion. China, as a major consumer, saw notable price inflation due to internal demand-supply imbalances, further amplifying global pricing pressure.
Q4 2024
During Q4 2024, bauxite prices suffered a significant hike, increasing by $57.58 per metric FOB Kamsar ton, or 15.17, due to the influence of a mix of force disruptions and continued demand. The rainy season, typically disrupting mining activity, caused lower shipments, and in October, a major exporter halted exports, further constraining force. Despite all these challenges, bauxite exports reached a record high of 38.01 million tonnes in Q2 2024 due to robust Chinese demand, representing 69.44 of Guinea’s bauxite exports for the first eleven months of 2024. Such a rise in demand was driven by China’s record-breaking aluminum product, driven by industries like solar power and electric vehicles.
Q3 2024
In Q3 2024, bauxite prices increased by $50 per metric ton FOB Kamsar, or 7.76%, due to a mix of supply disruptions and persistent demand. In one of the world’s largest bauxite exporters, Guinea, the rainy season took a toll on mining activities, with lower shipments being a result and a contributing factor to price increases. Additionally, geopolitical tensions and logistical challenges, such as disruptions in shipping routes, further strained supply chains, exacerbating the upward pressure on prices. Simultaneously, strong demand from key sectors, including aluminum production, construction, and automotive industries, particularly in regions like Europe and Asia, supported the price increase.
Q2 2024
In Q2 2024, bauxite prices saw a slight increase of $46.40 per metric ton FOB Kamsar, representing a 0.80% rise, indicating a relatively stable but tightening market. The modest price growth was primarily driven by seasonal supply constraints in major producing countries like Guinea, where heavy rains disrupted mining and transport operations. Additionally, steady demand from the global aluminum industry, particularly in China, maintained pressure on supply chains. Although the market did not experience sharp volatility, ongoing logistical challenges and elevated freight costs contributed to a gradual upward price trend, reflecting a cautious but resilient global bauxite outlook during the quarter.
Q1 2024
In Q1 2024, bauxite prices increased by $46.03 per metric ton FOB Kamsar, a 3.37% rise, driven by steady demand and tightening supply conditions. The price uptick was influenced by continued strong consumption from the aluminum production sector, especially in Asia, where industrial output remained robust. At the same time, weather-related disruptions, and regulatory pressures in key mining regions, including Guinea and Australia, constrained supply, and delayed shipments. Although the increase was moderate, it reflected underlying market resilience amid growing concerns over raw material availability and transportation bottlenecks, setting the tone for firmer pricing in the subsequent quarters.
Q1 2025
In Q1 2025, bauxite prices in India increased by $91.89/metric ton CIF Mundra (Guinea), with 29.57% increase. This significant rise was driven by factors impacting domestic supply and global demand.
Despite India being the world’s second-largest aluminum producer, domestic bauxite extraction has struggled to keep pace with the growing industry needs. Challenges such as environmental regulations, complex land acquisition processes, and community resistance have hindered the expansion of mining operations. Additionally, certain bauxite deposits in India contain higher impurity levels, raising costs and reducing efficiency in alumina production.
Consequently, Indian producers have increasingly relied on imported bauxite to meet demand. Imports rose from over 3.7 million metric tons in 2023 to more than 4.5 million metric tons in 2024, reflecting a 20% year-over-year increase. This growing dependence on external sources, coupled with global supply constraints, has exerted upward pressure on prices.
Q4 2024
In Q4 2024, bauxite prices in India experienced a substantial surge of $70.92 per metric ton CIF Mundra (Guinea), marking a 13.72% increase. This sharp rise was driven by a combination of factors impacting both domestic supply and global demand. Despite India being the world’s second-largest aluminum producer, domestic bauxite extraction faced challenges, including environmental regulations and logistical issues, leading to supply constraints. Additionally, the global bauxite market experienced disruptions, with key suppliers facing challenges that affected supply chains.
Q3 2024
In Q3 2024, prices in India experienced a significant increase of $62.37/metric ton CIF Mundra (Guinea), equating to a 4.78% rise. This surge was primarily driven by a combination of domestic supply constraints and escalating demand from the aluminum sector. Despite India being the world’s second-largest aluminum producer, domestic bauxite extraction faced challenges, including environmental regulations and logistical issues, leading to supply constraints. Additionally, the global bauxite market experienced disruptions, with key suppliers facing challenges that affected supply chains.
Q2 2024
In Q2 2024, bauxite prices in India increased by $59.52/metric ton CIF Mundra (Guinea), with 0.53%, reflecting moderate price pressure in the market. This incremental increase can be attributed to several factors, including a tightening supply due to weather-related disruptions in major bauxite-producing regions like Guinea, where mining and transportation were impacted by seasonal rains. While the impact of supply constraints was limited, it contributed to a mild upward trend. Concurrently, the strong demand for aluminum, particularly from industries in India and other key regions such as China, kept the bauxite market relatively stable.
Q1 2024
In Q1 2024, bauxite prices in India experienced a notable increase of $59.21 per metric ton CIF Mundra (Guinea), reflecting a 4.26% rise. This uptick was primarily driven by a combination of domestic supply constraints and increasing demand from the aluminum sector. Despite India being the world’s second-largest aluminum producer, challenges such as environmental regulations, land acquisition issues, and infrastructure inadequacies have hindered the expansion of bauxite mining operations. These factors contributed to a tightening of domestic supply, placing upward pressure on prices. Simultaneously, the global demand for aluminum remained robust, particularly in regions like Asia, further supporting the price increase.
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Molecular Weight[g/mol]
CAS No
HS Code
Molecular Formula
Bauxite is a naturally occurring, reddish-brown to tan sedimentary rock primarily composed of aluminum minerals such as gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore, along with iron oxides like goethite and hematite. It serves as the principal ore for aluminum extraction through the Bayer process. In its calcined form, bauxite undergoes heating to remove moisture, enhancing its suitability for various industrial applications.
Packaging Type
Grades Covered
Incoterms Used
Synonym
PriceWatch Quotation Terms:
Ex-Location: This incoterm refers to a shipping agreement where the seller makes the goods available at their premises, and the buyer is responsible for all transportation costs, including shipping, insurance, and any other fees.
CIF: CIF refers to the Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) terms for goods. Under CIF terms, the seller is responsible for the cost of goods, insurance, and freight charges until the goods reach the port of destination.
FD: FD stands for Free Delivered where the seller takes full responsibility for delivering goods to the location/port. This ensures the buyer receives the goods at the designated port with all necessary costs, except import duties, covered.
FOB: FOB refers to the Free On-Board shipping term, where the seller is responsible for the cost and risk of delivering the goods to the port. Once the goods are on board the vessel, the responsibility shifts to the buyer for all costs, including shipping and insurance.
| Parameter | Specification |
| Alumina (Al2O3) | Minimum 45% |
| Silica (SiO2) | Maximum 4% |
| Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) | Maximum 15% |
| Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) | Maximum 3% |
| Loss on Ignition (LOI) | Maximum 12% |
| Moisture | Maximum 1% |
| Hardness (Mohs scale) | 7-8 |
| Bulk Density | 2.5 – 2.9 g/cm³ |
| Appearance | Brown to reddish-brown |
Applications
Global Demand for Alumina and Aluminum
Bauxite is the primary raw material for alumina, which is then used to produce aluminum.
Increased demand for aluminum in construction, automotive, aerospace, packaging, and electronics boosts bauxite demand.
Growth in emerging economies and global infrastructure spending also drives demand.
Major Importing Countries (Especially China)
China is the largest consumer and importer of bauxite, especially after reducing domestic mining due to environmental concerns.
Any change in Chinese import policy, domestic production, or refinery capacity affects global prices.
Supply Disruptions
Mining disruptions due to weather (e.g., cyclones in Australia), political instability, or labor strikes can restrict supply.
Export bans or restrictions (e.g., Indonesia in the past) can cause price spikes.
Grade and Quality of Bauxite
High-grade bauxite (with high Al₂O₃ and low reactive silica) commands a premium price.
Prices vary depending on whether it is metallurgical-grade, non-metallurgical-grade, or refractory-grade.
Bauxite is produced from raw bauxite ore, and its pricing is closely tied to the cost of mining, refining, and energy inputs. Fluctuations in alumina and energy prices directly influence bauxite production costs. Higher feedstock and processing costs generally lead to increased bauxite prices.
Bauxite is the primary source of aluminum, which is widely used in construction, transportation, packaging, and electronics. When bauxite prices rise, the cost of aluminum-based products such as vehicles, buildings, and consumer goods also increases, contributing to inflation across various industries.
PriceWatch offers:
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Some of the key benefits of using PriceWatch include:
Real-time Data: Access to up-to-date market intelligence and data on commodity supply chains.
Expert Analysis: Insights from industry experts to interpret market trends and identify potential risks.
Risk Assessment: Tools to assess supply chain vulnerabilities and develop mitigation strategies.
Benchmarking: Comparisons of commodity prices and sourcing practices to optimize procurement decisions.
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