Bauxite

Bauxite is a reddish-brown rock primarily composed of aluminium hydroxide minerals. It is the world’s main source of aluminium and is primarily mined in tropical and subtropical regions. The top producers of bauxite are Australia, Guinea, and China. Bauxite finds metallurgical uses in aluminium production, as well as non-metallurgical uses for refractory materials, abrasives and other industrial applications.

Sub-Category	Core Content Range	Size Range
Bauxite	Al2O3 76-100%	0-40 mm

Please note that the above listed sub-categories including its core content and size ranges are just a snapshot of Metalshub’s currently traded raw materials. We are adding new sub-categories on a monthly basis and would be happy to assess your specific requirements to this category.

Metalshub provides producers and consumers of bauxite with a software solution to improve the way they buy or sell it. Our software connects over 2,000 companies in a joint trading network. This allows sellers to discover new buyers of bauxite and buyers to discover new suppliers of bauxite.

For buyers, Metalshub’s Procurement Solution allows aluminium producers, refractory producers, and other bauxite consumers to digitalise their procurement process in order to increase sourcing efficiency, ensure compliant buying, and take data-driven decisions. For sellers, Metalshub’s Sales Solution allows miners, traders, and other sellers to digitalise their sales process, manage inventory, and optimise their sales book.

Prices for bauxite are provided by several key market platforms:

1. Fastmarkets: Fastmarkets offers journalistic comprehensive coverage of bauxite and alumina markets, providing price assessments and market forecasts. They track global price trends and regularly publish updates on supply and demand conditions ​(Fastmarkets).
2. Argus Media: Argus publishes journalistic bauxite prices and market insights as part of their metals and commodities coverage. They offer detailed reports on market dynamics and price movements across global markets ​(Argus Media).
3. CRU Group: CRU provides journalistic pricing and market analysis for bauxite through its Bauxite and Alumina Monitor, offering both short-term and long-term forecasts ​(CRU).
4. S&P Global Commodity Insights (Platts): S&P provides journalistic data on bauxite prices as part of its integrated commodities data services. They offer price assessments, market analysis, and historical data through their Platts Market Data platform ​(Commodity Insights).
5. The Bauxite Index: This platform specialises in bauxite and alumina prices, offering various indices like the CBIX Value-in-Use index. It tracks bauxite price fluctuations and provides detailed market analysis, particularly focused on Chinese imports ​(The Bauxite Index).

Beyond these five examples, other providers may also provide prices.

The leading countries for bauxite production are:

• Australia – ~30% of global production
• Guinea – ~25% of global production
• China – ~10% of global production
• Brazil – ~<10% of global production
• India – ~5% of global production

Some of the key producers of bauxite are:

• Rio Tinto (Australia) – ~15% of global production
• Guinea Alumina Corporation (Guinea) – ~10%of global production
• Norsk Hydro (Norway) – ~10% of global production
• Alcoa (USA) – ~10% of global production
• China Hongqiao Group (China) – ~<10% of global production

Bauxite is extracted from open-pit mines. Thereafter it may be crushed and washed before being refined into alumina through the Bayer process. This involves mixing the bauxite with sodium hydroxide, which separates the aluminium hydroxide from the ore. The alumina is then used to produce aluminium. Different grades of bauxite and alumina are also used in the refractory and abrasive industries.

Bauxite is primarily used in the production of aluminium (~85%). It is also used in refractories (~10%) and abrasives (~5%). The material’s high alumina content makes it valuable for heat-resistant and wear-resistant applications in steelmaking and industrial furnaces.