Brazil’s aluminum, bauxite exports fall

Brazil’s exports of bauxite, aluminum and alumina fell in August, according to the country’s trade ministry.

Bauxite exports for the month totaled 662,647 tonnes, down 25.6 percent year on year and 30.2 percent below the 949,860 tonnes shipped in July 2013 amid reduced purchases by the United States and Ireland.

Export revenue in August stood at $27.02 million, down 30.3 percent from $38.75 million a year earlier.

U.S. purchases of 231,110 tonnes fell 46.3 percent from 430,006 tonnes in August 2012, Ireland cut its buys 50.2 percent to 109,378 tonnes from 219,730 tonnes and China took 48,095 tonnes of bauxite after buying no material in the same month last year.

For the first eight months of the year, Brazil’s exports rose 24.8 percent tp 5.32 million tonnes.

All transactions were on an f.o.b. basis.

Alumina exports remained practically flat at 480,625 tonnes compared with 484,733 tonnes in August 2012 as a reduction in volumes sent to Norway was offset by increased trade with Canada.

Revenue for the month totaled $121.34 million, down 0.3 percent from $120.99 million a year ago.

Canada purchased 162,961 tonnes in August, up 42.2 percent from 114,582 tonnes a year earlier, while Norway reduced its volumes 46.8 percent to 98,309 tonnes from 184,936 tonnes.

Alumina exports for the first eight months of the year totaled 4.02 million tonnes, down 5.5 percent from the same period last year.

The country’s aluminum exports fell 35.8 percent year on year to 30,262 tonnes from 47,162 tonnes as European countries received fewer shipments, although U.S. purchases increased to 10,690 tonnes from no shipments a year earlier.

Aluminum revenue for the month totaled $57.51 million, down 34.5 percent from $87.81 million a year earlier.

Exports from January to August totaled 288,646 tonnes, down 13.1 percent year on year.