Asian Metal News
9 January 2020: A total of 9 mln t of bauxite was imported via Rizhao Port in 2019, surging by 275% y-o-y. Bauxite imports arriving at Rizhao Port are mainly for use of alumina refineries in Shanxi and Henan, whose demand for imported bauxite rose rapidly from early 2019. According to an inside source, Rizhao Port is targeting 12 mln t of bauxite imports in 2020 and there is 500 kt of imported bauxite in stock at present. Rizhao Port’s bauxite imports are expected to increase to 950 kt in January 2020, up from 800 kt in December 2019. Bauxite arriving at Rizhao Port was mainly from Indonesia and Australia, representing 80% of the total, however Guinean imports are likely to increase in 2020.
Rizhao Port has one 180 kt berth and three 100 kt berths with an additional 250 kt berth to come on line by end-Feb. 2020. Total port charges at Rizhao Port are approximately RMB20.5/t for 2020, up by RMB1.5/t from end-2019.
