Alba uses Jeddah port to export aluminium

Aluminium Bahrain is sending its metal to markets via the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah, its CEO said. Alba CEO Ali Al Baqali also said the company was looking at other ways of importing raw material alumina, of which it has almost one month of stock remaining, and had received additional supply from Saudi smelter Ma’aden.

The Gulf smelter’s normal route to global markets is via the Strait of Hormuz which has remained effectively closed since the start of the conflict with Iran.

Mr Al Baqali told an investor call on Wednesday the Alba was sending 40-60% of exports via Saudi Arabia, despite having already declared force majeure and cut production.

“We are using Jeddah port, for example, for exporting our metals. We are incurring the land cost.

“However, we are able to meet our commitment to our customers on time,” he said, according to a transcript released on the Alba website last week.

Jeddah, on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, is around 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) overland from Alba, the world’s largest aluminium smelter on one site.

Alba has not imported any alumina via the Red Sea so far, Al Baqali said, who thanked Ma’aden for the extra supply. “They are supporting us in this difficult time,” he said.