Fiji’s bauxite export to China put on hold for about three years: Minister

The country in the South Pacific, Fiji, has reported that its bauxite exports to China have been halted for about three years.

Jone Usamate, Fiji's Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, stated, "There have not been any shipments to China since 2019, and there are no shipments scheduled any time soon. Bauxite export depends on the world market price; if the price goes down, it affects the whole chain."

 "We had COVID-19 in China. That means the things you do, such as manufacturing, slow down a bit, and so when all that happens, it impacts whether it economically makes sense to send because transportation from here to China is quite expensive. When that happens, the bauxite payment is also affected", he added.

Arum Exploration (Fiji) Limited is the company that holds the bauxite mining license in Vanua Levu and began operations in 2012.

The Minister said, "The Company is just stockpiling, waiting for the right time to export. I am hopeful the company will start shipping again."

Late in 2019, the company was exploring options for securing buyers for its bauxite since the quality of the ore mined from its Naibulu Mine was the primary concern.