【SMM Port Inventory of Imported Bauxite】According to SMM's statistics on April 17, the total bauxite inventory at ten domestic ports decreased by 90,000 mt from the previous week.

Shanxi Province recently issued the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of Shanxi Province. The Outline proposes to focus on developing high-end products such as special steel, aluminum-magnesium lightweight structural components, and high-end copper alloy strips and sheets. The province is expected to advance exploration of bauxite, dolomite, iron ore, copper ore, gold ore, graphite ore, high-purity quartz, and helium, and enhance the supply security of strategic mineral resources. The plan also encourages the vigorous development of recycled metals and supports enterprises in establishing scrap recycling systems.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] PT Antam targets bauxite production of 4.9 million wet metric tons (WMT) in 2026. This represents a 70% increase compared to 2025 production of 2.8 million tons. PT Antam revealed that the 2026 Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) for its bauxite mine at PT Mega Citra Utama (MCU) has not yet received approval from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). The delay is due to the ongoing revision of the Feasibility Study (FS).

The 2026 revision improves transparency through moisture and silica adjustments, but Indonesia’s bauxite HPM remains structurally above domestic transaction levels, reinforcing its role as a fiscal reference price rather than a true market-clearing mechanism.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has updated the Harga Patokan Mineral (HPM) guidelines for bauxite through Kepmen No. 144.K/MB.01/MMEM.B/2026, which amends the previous regulation. New HPM Formula (in USD/WMT): HPM Biji Bauksit = [(Constant × HMA Aluminium) ± CF Al₂O₃ − CF R-SiO₂] × (1 − MC) Constant = 1.50% CF Al₂O₃: Unchanged (±1.4 USD per 1% from 47%) CF R-SiO₂: ≤ 2% = No deduction > 2% = US$3.5 deduction per 0.5% increase (capped) The changes take effect on 15 April 2026.

Venezuela's National Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a new 131-article mining law aimed at securing U.S. support and foreign investment. The law includes provisions supporting foreign investment, such as an "economic balance" clause and international arbitration. The bill also establishes a streamlined tax system, centered on royalties of up to 13% of production and a new mining tax of up to 6% of total revenue, while exempting several existing taxes. Concessions can be valid for up to 30 years and can be extended twice for 10 years each. Officials stated that the reforms aim to attract investment to projects involving bauxite and other strategic minerals, but the government retains the power to designate national interests and impose special conditions.