According to Export Genius, a trade data portal, a smelter operated by mining and energy conglomerate PT Alamtri Resources Indonesia exported its first aluminium in June, to the United States and South Korea.
PT Kalimantan Aluminium Industry, which is located on the island of Borneo and began commissioning its first phase at the end of last year, transported 31,494 metric tons of primary aluminum to the United States last month and 3,569 tons to South Korea, according to Export Genius statistics.
The US has been seeking alternate supplies of aluminum due to disruptions in delivery from key suppliers in the Gulf due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Last month, shortages pushed US aluminum premiums (AUPc1) to a record high.
In March, 18,500 tons of aluminum were delivered to the US from the Juwan smelter in Indonesia, created by Chinese enterprises Tsingshan and Xinfa.
Mercuria purchased the most recent consignment intended for the United States, which left Indonesia on June 10 and is currently en route to Brownsville, Texas, according to Export Genius data.
Vitol purchased the consignment to South Korea, which likewise relies on Gulf smelters for supply, and it was its route to Incheon on June 29, according to statistics.
According to an Alamtri spokeswoman, the group’s smelting project has sparked great interest from prospective customers, and the company expects to sell up to 350,000 tons of aluminum ingots this year, covering both domestic and international markets.
Mercuria had no quick response. A spokesman for Vitol declined to comment on trading activity.
