Alumina Ltd of Australia says it is unlikely to bid for Rio Tinto's Pacific Aluminium business.

John Bevan, Alumina's CEO, said that CITIC, the company's new Chinese shareholder, might make a play for the business, but, he added, CITIC's shareholding with Alumina Ltd bears no relation on its position with Pacific Aluminium.

Alumina Ltd's key focus is bauxite and alumina and for this reason, it is unlikely to get involved with Pacific, Bevan said.

There was nothing to stop CITIC and Alumina looking at other acquisitions together, said Bevan.