Export authorities in China have postponed a tender scheduled for exports of non-metallurgical bauxite, a key ingredient in the production of refractories, abrasives, chemicals, and cement, for the second half of the year despite deteriorating market conditions, traders report.
As a result, the amount of bauxite allocated for export for the rest of 2009 will not be increased through a second quota as has occurred regularly since 1994.
The year’s entire allocation for bauxite exports will now remain at 470,000 tonnes, compared to some 930,000 tonnes which had been initially earmarked for 2009 export at the end of last year, representing a cutback for bauxite export volumes of just under 50%.
The export quota volume for bauxite in 2008 was 940,000 tonnes.
According...