Aluminum oxide Price — China Factory EXW 2026

Aluminum oxide price Spec: China national standards

China EXW, VAT excluded

Newest China EXW USD 397.61 / MT · VAT excluded -295.2832 (-43.00%) as of 20210323

Newest Price 397.61

Price Date 20210323

Day's Change -295.28

Day's Range 397.61 - 102.33

Month's Change +202.46

Month's Range 397.61 - 600.07

Year's Change -140.5

Year's Range 397.61 - 538.11

Most traders only watch metallurgical-grade alumina prices, but specialty grades—especially high-purity gamma for catalysts and alpha for advanced ceramics—command significant pr...

Also known as activated alumina, activated alumina ball, activated alumina desiccant, alpha Alumina

Opinions

What do alumina's crystal structures mean for industrial applications and pricing?

Most traders only watch metallurgical-grade alumina prices, but specialty grades—especially high-purity gamma for catalysts and alpha for advanced ceramics—command significant premiums and have different supply-demand dynamics. The 2026 push for AI data center cooling and semiconductor substrates is boosting demand for high-purity alumina. If you're sourcing for non-smelting applications, don't anchor your negotiations to the SHFE alumina futures price; benchmark against specialty chemical indices instead.

Why is alumina oversupply squeezing electrolytic aluminum profits despite high aluminum prices?

The real signal to watch is capacity closure, not just price. Until we see meaningful, sustained production cuts—not just maintenance—the alumina glut will persist. The shift to aluminum billet exports to Southeast Asia is a temporary buffer, not a structural fix. For buyers, this means alumina procurement should stay hand-to-mouth; locking in long-term contracts now could backfire if prices slide further toward the 2,500 yuan/ton level where marginal capacity finally exits.

Aluminum oxide price context

What drives Aluminum oxide prices

What do alumina's crystal structures mean for industrial applications and pricing?: Most traders only watch metallurgical-grade alumina prices, but specialty grades—especially high-purity gamma for catalysts and alpha for advanced ceramics—co...

Why is alumina oversupply squeezing electrolytic aluminum profits despite high aluminum prices?: The real signal to watch is capacity closure, not just price. Until we see meaningful, sustained production cuts—not just maintenance—the alumina glut will pe...

How we assess Aluminum oxide price

China factory / mainstream market EXW quotes (VAT excluded where shown) - not a single global public index

Regional and specification detail so buyers can compare like-for-like grades

Landed cost figures from our calculator are planning estimates, not a customs ruling

Overview

Aluminum oxide (alumina, CAS 1344-28-1) is a white, odorless, water-insoluble powder with a high melting point of 2040°C. It is the key intermediate between bauxite and aluminum metal, with over 95% of output used in aluminum smelting.

Metallurgical: primary feedstock for electrolytic aluminum production, consuming roughly 2.3 tons of bauxite per ton of alumina.
Refractories & ceramics: used in high-temperature bricks, crucibles, and abrasives.
Catalyst & adsorbent: gamma-alumina serves as a porous catalyst support and desiccant.
Specialty applications: feedstock for synthetic corundum, sapphires, and high-purity technical ceramics.

China dominates global alumina production, accounting for roughly 45% of world output, yet relies on imports for over 70% of its bauxite, mainly from Guinea and Australia. Domestic production is energy-intensive, with power representing about 40% of costs, and capacity is concentrated near coal and hydropower resources. The market has seen significant price volatility, with futures trading on the Shanghai exchange since 2023.

Key domestic producers:
Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco) – largest integrated producer with full bauxite-to-alumina chain.
Weiqiao (Hongqiao) – coastal producer with large-scale capacity and low-cost imported bauxite logistics.
Yunnan Aluminum – integrated producer with hydropower-linked operations.

Properties

Name

Aluminum oxide

activated alumina

activated alumina ball

activated alumina desiccant

alpha Alumina

CAS Number

1344-28-1

EINECS No.

215-691-6

Risk Codes

S26;S24/25;S16;S7;S36

Safety Description

R36/37/38;R67;R36/38;R11;R36

HS Code

2818200000

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ChemPriceHub

Aluminum oxide price Spec: China national standards

Recent market notes

Chempricehub Important Reminder: Poly Aluminum Chloride (PAC) Price Adjustment Upward

ChemPriceHub reminds: China Aluminium Industry's alumina spot prices in many places have fallen.