ABx towards early east coast production

2025-03-06

Mar. 6, 2025 - ABx Group is pleased to provide an update on its suite of Australian metallurgical bauxite deposits and its strategy to capitalise on these assets amid the ongoing global surge in bauxite prices.

Global bauxite prices have significantly increased due to severe supply disruptions from Guinea and reduced production in China. The price of Guinea bauxite minimum 45% Al2O3 CIF China increased by almost 60% in less than four months, from US$74 per tonne on 19 September 2024 to US$118 per tonne on 13 January 2025. The bauxite market may be undergoing a transition similar to the iron ore market in the early 2000s.

ABx has the largest gibbsite bauxite assets in eastern Australia. This type of bauxite is in demand from alumina refineries that operate at low temperature, including numerous refineries in China.

Binjour, Queensland: A resource of 37 million tonnes of gibbsite-type metallurgical bauxite located 200 km by road southwest of Bundaberg port. Part of the resource is likely suitable as direct shipping ore, with no beneficiation required. Mining, port and transhipping studies have been completed, and mine lease application MLA 100277 is well advanced. ABx is assessing how quickly the project can commence production, potentially during CY2025.

Taralga, NSW: A resource of 38 million tonnes of gibbsite-type metallurgical bauxite, located 200 km inland from Port Kembla. A 2012 pre-feasibility study (PFS) by independent engineers concluded that transport by road and rail was feasible4, but subsequent delays in the expansion of Port Kembla outer harbour were the main obstacle to the project. Recent changes in Port Kembla logistics have been positive and this project is now capable of delivering bauxite into the seaborne bauxite market and is therefore being reassessed.

Company Strategy: Given the shortfall in global bauxite supply and the favourable quality and logistic settings of the ABx bauxite deposits, ABx is actively pursuing several options for monetisation of these bauxite assets. This includes updating mine studies to prioritise an earlier commencement of production.