The price of alumina in China rose this week amid a bout of panic buying among participants, who worried that reduced supply in the seaborne market after a disruption at Hydro's Alunorte refinery in Brazil would in turn affect the Chinese domestic market.
Hydro announced on Tuesday August 18 that it had halted operation of the pipeline transporting bauxite from its Paragominas bauxite mine to the Alunorte alumina refinery for extended maintenance.Fastmarkets' weekly price assessment for alumina metallurgical grade, ddp China was 2,330-2,360 yuan ($337-341) per tonne on Thursday, up by 40-50 yuan per tonne from 2,280-2,320 yuan per tonne...