Alumina shortages to increase as Chinese crackdown bites

Shortages of alumina, the raw material for producing aluminium, may become more severe in the coming months as an environmental crackdown in China is due to shut capacity, forcing smelters to scramble for supplies and pushing up prices. Alumina prices have already shot up 73% since May and could see further gains, but they are likely to ease early next year as Chinese refineries resume output again following the winter shutdowns at the same time new operations elsewhere ramp up.