White Fused Alumina Prices Rebound in Late May Amid Cost Pressures

Recent data from Refractories Window highlights a dynamic pricing landscape across the alumina and silicon carbide markets for May. While white fused alumina (WFA) saw a sharp turnaround after early-month weakness, other materials like brown fused alumina (BFA) and silicon carbide continued to soften. Sintered alumina, however, recorded a price increase, driven by upstream supply challenges.

White Fused Alumina: From Slump to Surge

In early May, WFA prices declined by approximately RMB 100/ton, weighed down by sluggish demand. However, the tide turned mid-month as multiple production zones—such as Zhengzhou and Sanmenxia—saw large-scale shutdowns due to raw material shortages and rising costs. With industrial alumina prices climbing by over RMB 300/ton and raw material supply tightening, WFA prices rebounded sharply. By the end of May, WFA had gained back RMB 300/ton, resulting in a net monthly increase of RMB 200/ton.

This shift was largely fueled by the continued surge in industrial alumina pricing, which remains under upward pressure due to reduced operating rates at domestic alumina plants and international uncertainty—especially from Guinea’s evolving mining policies.

Sintered Alumina: Price Increase on Tight Supply

Following the same raw material trends, sintered alumina (SA) also experienced a RMB 100/ton price increase in May, bringing its benchmark price to around RMB 5,150/ton. Limited spot supply and tight availability of industrial alumina used in sintered products supported the price hike.

Brown Fused Alumina: Price Dip Stabilizes

BFA continued its downward trend in the first half of May, with a RMB 50/ton decline. However, prices stabilized in the latter half of the month, largely due to increasing WFA costs and consistently high prices for calcined bauxite (a key input). Mainstream BFA prices remained within RMB 4,900–5,050/ton, with producers cautious about further price cuts due to cost constraints.

Calcined Bauxite: Stable but Volatile Outlook

The bauxite market held mostly steady throughout May, but signs of stress are emerging. Supply of high-quality ore remains tight, and some producers have reported receiving mixed-quality shipments, adding to production complexity and cost. Although downstream demand remains soft, cost support is keeping the market balanced—for now.

Short-term risks remain, especially with global bauxite supply facing disruptions and uncertainty surrounding overseas mines. While prices for premium-grade bauxite may see slight increases, broad market stability hangs in the balance.

Silicon Carbide: Price Drops as Competition Heats Up

Silicon carbide (SiC) faced price pressure throughout May due to weak global demand and heightened competition among suppliers. Many SiC producers have cut production costs to stay competitive, but some buyers have raised concerns over deteriorating product quality. There are reports of cheaper carbon materials like semi-coke or regular coke being mixed into the feedstock, leading to lower-grade SiC output.

Key takeaway: Buyers should not chase low prices blindly—quality must remain a priority, especially in high-performance industrial applications.