[SMM Aluminum Express News] India auctioned a record 200 mineral blocks in FY 2025–26, including 30 bauxite blocks, a key focus for aluminum and industrial supply chains. This marks the highest annual auction volume ever, with bauxite ranking third after limestone (76) and iron ore (40). The auctions strengthen domestic raw material security and value addition under transparent processes.

【SMM Port Inventory of Imported Bauxite】According to SMM's statistics on March 20, the total bauxite inventory at ten domestic ports increased by 0.97 million mt from the previous week.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall near Coen, Far North Queensland, Australia, around 7:30 AM on March 20, 2026, as a Category 4 system (after peaking as Cat 5 offshore). It brought winds >250 km/h, 200–500 mm rain, flash flooding, and storm surge—one of the strongest cyclones to hit the region in decades. Rio Tinto shut down its Weipa bauxite operations (including Amrun and Andoom mines) as a precaution against destructive winds, heavy rain, and risks to infrastructure. The Weipa area supplies key global bauxite for aluminium production. Emergency evacuations occurred in remote communities like Lockhart River.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] The Indonesian Bauxite Association urges all bauxite miners to pay attention to current challenges: global uncertainty, rising diesel prices, increasing operating costs, 2026 RKAB approvals, rising aluminum prices, tax burdens (incl. HPM), and stricter regulations. In response to these challenges, the Chairman of the Indonesian Bauxite Association urge all bauxite mining operators to renegotiate contracts periodically and suggest using the HPM as a benchmark price.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Guinea, the world’s largest bauxite producer, is in discussions with miners to introduce controls on the volume of bauxite ore supplied to the market in order to protect prices. Mines and Geology Minister Bouna Sylla said the government is considering measures to regulate bauxite production and prevent a sharp price slump, which would hurt company revenues and government tax income. If implemented, Guinea would join the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe in restricting exports of key minerals, most of which are currently destined for China.

Rusal's financial report showed that, affected by its capacity optimization plan, full-year 2025 primary aluminum production fell 1.9% YoY to 3.918 million mt (2024: 3.992 million mt). Alumina production, meanwhile, rose 6.7% YoY to 6.858 million mt. In addition, benefiting from the Guinea expansion project and increased equity interests in refineries in China and India, bauxite production increased 16.2% YoY to 18.453 million mt.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Indonesian bauxite mines generally observe the national public holidays (libur nasional) and collective leave days (cuti bersama) in March 2026, as confirmed by industry players, though exact implementation varies by company policy (e.g., essential operations like maintenance or shifts may continue with adjustments). This creates a potential 7-day extended break (18–24 March), aligning with government SKB (joint ministerial decree) on holidays and cuti bersama for 2026.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated India's first fully automated dry-bulk cargo terminal, the Haldia Bulk Terminal (HBT), to the nation on Saturday (March 2026). Developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) at the Haldia Dock Complex (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata), the facility has an annual handling capacity of 4 MMTPA. Key features: 1. Full mechanisation and automated cargo handling 2. Direct rail connectivity via a 1.54 km dedicated rail line 3. 2,000-tonne Railway Wagon Loading System (RWLS) for seamless ship-to-train transfer The eastern seaboard handles ~60% of India's dry-bulk imports (coal, bauxite, limestone), vital for steel, aluminium, and power sectors.

On March 11, the low-grade bauxite comprehensive utilization project in Wuchuan Autonomous County was fully completed. The project is located in Canglang Community, Zhuoshui Town, Wuchuan Autonomous County, with a total investment of 110 million yuan. After the project begins operation, it is expected to process 300,000 mt/year of low-grade bauxite and mine waste slag, produce about 160,000 mt/year of aluminum concentrate ore, and generate annual output value of up to 100 million yuan. It was understood that the aluminum concentrate produced by the low-grade bauxite comprehensive utilization project will be supplied directly to SPIC (Zunyi) Industrial Development Co., Ltd., gradually forming a closed-loop industry chain from mining and waste slag comprehensive utilization to deep process.

Cameroon Aluminum Ore Was Expected to Ship Ore in Q3 According to the latest project timetable, the company had confirmed that it would ship its first batch of bauxite ore in Q3 this year. Peter Secker, CEO of Canyon Resources, said: “With the smooth commencement of production at Minim-Martap in Cameroon, the introduction of a surface miner marked an important step. Bauxite mining operations would be rolled out intensively, and the company still expected to deliver its first batch of bauxite in Q3 this year. At the same time, we continued to advance logistics, offtake discussions, and downstream feasibility studies to maximize the long-term value of this globally significant tier-one high-grade bauxite project.”