Nippon Light Metal Seeks Alternative Bauxite Suppliers

Nippon Light Metal, Japanese aluminium smelter and rolled aluminium products maker, seeks alternative bauxite suppliers. The firm now procures about 40% of its bauxite consumption from Gove mine in Australia. However, the negotiation failed between Nippon Light Metal and Gove mine on bauxite supply after July 2006. The firm plans to cover the shortage by purchase from other bauxite mines.Nippon Light Metal procures bauxite from various countries including Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia. Japanese smelters’ bauxite purchase is getting harder under surging price of aluminium ingot and alumina. Additionally bauxite mines restrain their shipment when alumina demand keeps active in China. Nippon Light Metal plans to seek new bauxite suppliers in order to secure the material stably. The firm also aims to put the increasing material cost on the chemical products prices.