Metals & Mining Theme, Non-Ferrous
October 31, 2025
Platts proposes new bauxite CIF China, FOB Guinea price assessments
Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, proposes to launch new weekly bauxite spot price assessments on a CIF China and FOB Guinea basis, effective Jan. 8, 2026.
Platts has observed growing seaborne trade for bauxite delivered to China, the world's leading bauxite importer. From January-August 2025, China imported 141.5 million mt of bauxite, up 31% year over year, according to Chinese customs data.
Total global carried volumes for bauxite stood at 185.4 million mt in January-September 2025, of which 135.1 million mt, or 73%, were from Guinea, according to data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea.
The proposed assessments would complement Platts' existing alumina and aluminum benchmarks and provide further pricing transparency to the upstream market in the value chain.
The proposed CIF China assessment would have Yantai, Shandong province as its basis location, while the FOB Guinea assessment would be based on Kamsar. Information reported for other locations may be normalized to Platts basis specifications and considered for the assessment.
The proposed assessments would reflect the following specifications:
| Assessment description | Quality | Quantity | Location | Timing | Dimensions | Payment terms | UOM |
| Bauxite CIF China | 45% alumina; 3% silica | Typical 170,000 mt | Yantai, Shandong province | Arrival 45-90 days forward | Less than 200mm lump | L/C at sight | $/dmt |
| Bauxite FOB Guinea | 45% alumina; 3% silica | Typical 170,000 mt | Kamsar | Loading 15-60 days forward | Less than 200mm lump | L/C at sight | $/dmt |
Platts is also seeking feedback on the current market standard for normalizing bauxite grades with varying alumina and silica content to 45% and 3% levels, respectively.
Information reported on cargoes with differing specifications from those above may be normalized to Platts basis specifications based on price differentials surveyed with the market.
The proposed weekly price assessments would follow the Singapore publishing calendar and reflect spot market information up to the close of the assessment window at 5:30 pm Singapore (0930 GMT) on Thursdays.
The assessments would be published in Platts Metals Daily, on pages MTL0005 and PMA0005 of Platts Nonferrous Metals Alert, and in the Platts price database.
Platts invites feedback, comments and questions on this proposal to platts_alumina_moc@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com by Nov. 21.
For written comments, please provide a clear indication if they are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing. Platts will consider all comments received and will make those not marked as confidential available upon request.