As the aluminium industry continues its recovery, demand for both bauxite and alumina has been strong to date and is forecast to remain so through the coming years due to capacity growth in China, India and the Middle East.

Meeting this demand, however, may prove challenging. While the increasing demand from China for bauxite has so far been met by Australia and Indonesia, many in the industry are now questioning where the future bauxite will come from to satisfy demand, and if the bauxite market further tightens then how might that constrain alumina production, and what other sources of alumina will be developed?

The 2011 Bauxite and Alumina Market Outlook from CRU is available for £9400. Email aluminium@crugroup.com or web www.cruonline.crugroup.com