---
title: "World's Largest Alumina Refinery Outside China Abruptly Halves Output On NatGas Disruption"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/295643734.md"
description: "Norsk Hydro's Alunorte, the world's largest alumina refinery outside China, cut output by 50% due to natural gas disruptions. This supply shock pushed London aluminum prices to a seven-week high of $3,373 per ton and alumina futures up 1%. The refinery relies on gas for heat in the Bayer process. LME inventories have hit multi-decade lows, exacerbating concerns over a potential global aluminum deficit exceeding 900,000 tons amid broader industrial metal price surges."
datetime: "2026-08-12T09:46:43.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/295643734.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/295643734.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/295643734.md)
generator: "portal-rs"
---

# World's Largest Alumina Refinery Outside China Abruptly Halves Output On NatGas Disruption

Norwegian aluminum producer Norsk Hydro's Alunorte plant in Brazil, one of the world's largest alumina refineries, **reduced output by 50% following disruptions to natural gas availability**.

Bloomberg reports that disruptions to NatGas availability at Alunorte forced a **50% reduction in output and sent aluminum prices in London to a seven-week high**. Hydro said production would return to full capacity once gas supplies normalize.

Aluminum rose nearly 2% in London and traded at $3,373 a metric ton. Alumina futures gained 1% in Shanghai.

NatGas is critical to Alunorte becausealumina refining requireshigh-temperature heat and steam. **The gas powers theBayer process, which refines bauxite:**

-   ***Digestion:*** *Bauxite is mixed with caustic soda and heated under pressure to dissolve the aluminum-bearing minerals.*
-   ***Evaporation and steam generation:*** *Large boilers provide steam throughout the refinery.*
-   ***Calcination:*** *Aluminum hydroxide is heated to around 1,832F to remove water and produce smelter-grade alumina.*

The disruption means that Alunorte cannot maintain enough steam and furnace heat to operate its production lines, forcing the refinery to reduce throughput. For context, **Alunorte is the world's largest single-site alumina refinery and the largest outside China**. It is located in Barcarena, Pará, and has an **annual capacity of 6.3 million metric tons.**

Inventories in London Metal Exchange warehouses have fallen to 250,000 tons, the **lowest level since November 1990**. Norsk Hydro recently warned that the annual global aluminum deficit could top 900,000 tons if trade through the Strait of Hormuz remained disrupted.

Also in the industrial metals space, **copper futures in London are trading above $14,000 per ton as** metal inflows into the US continue ahead of President Trump's expected tariff, effectively tightening global supplies.

Surging prices for both industrial metals will **only make electrification and decarbonization even more expensive**.

"Copper and aluminum are important beneficiaries of electrification and decarbonization," said UniCredit SpA strategist Thomas Strobel. "**While copper's investment case is driven by structural supply constraints, aluminum benefits from lightweighting, grid expansion and recycling. Together, they offer complementary exposure to some of the strongest long-term trends in the global economy.**"

### Related Stocks

- [NHYDY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NHYDY.US.md)
- [ALUM.UK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/ALUM.UK.md)

## Related News & Research

- [Norsk Hydro Says Alunorte Gets Terminal Access For Gas To Boost Alumina Production](https://longbridge.com/en/news/295891899.md)
- [Hydro signs 10 GWh hybrid power PPA with Varberg Energi in Sweden’s SE3 zone](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296183111.md)
- [ROI-China eases Iran war aluminium shock, but at a cost: Andy Home](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296182419.md)
- [How Investors May Respond To Alcoa (AA) Amid Tighter Global Aluminum Supply And Capital Discipline](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296564036.md)
- [Hot US Weather Forecasts Push Nat-Gas Prices Higher](https://longbridge.com/en/news/296645993.md)

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> **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**