High quality monohydrate bauxite in Turkey will meet China’s new looming demand
----Interview with Mr. Ilker Dilber Marketing Director Turkey Demireller Mining
As a family owned company, Demireller Mining is the leader bauxite producer exporter company in Turkey far beyond others and one of the top 5 bauxite producer in Europe. Production and sales of high quality monohydrate bauxite has begun in 2002. Demireller owns more than 20 bauxite deposits, 5 crushing screening plants and 3 distribution centers in Turkey. 400,000 tons bauxite were produced, processed and sold to both domestic and international markets mainly to Alumina as well as cement, steel and abrasive producers all over the world annually. Demireller supplied 500,000 tons of bauxite to alumina market so far and we achieved to supply 55,000 tons to China Alumina market in 2015. Laboratories are equipped with technical infrastructures including the XRF analytical devices to determine the chemical , thermal and physical analysis of the products. Over 3 million tons of bauxite has been tested so far. As per R&D works in the mines, proven reserves are 15 million tons. Demireller Mining main values are environment friendly production, customer satisfactory operations and productive management.
Asian Metal: Because of the strict environmental protection policy in China, monohydrate bauxite supply became tight recently and Chinese alumina refineries in Shanxi and Henan consider using imported bauxite. Do you think Turkish bauxite will find the opportunity in China? What are the benefits?
Ilker Dilber: Turkish bauxite has been used in alumina process since 1975 by Eti Aluminium in Turkey. Demireller has exported Turkish high quality monohydrate bauxite to alumina market around 500,000 tons including China during last 6 years period. The main benefits are higher Al2O3 (58%min) content and lower SiO2 (3%max) content in alumina process.
Asian Metal: What kind of bauxite does Demireller Mining provide? Did you have export to China before? Where is your market right now? and in which fields?
Ilker Dilber: Demireller Mining provide several qualities of monohydrate bauxite to portland and aluminate cement (Al2O3, Fe2O3 source), steel (slag conditioner), abrasive, rock wool markets to all over the world. We have supplied 55,000 tons bauxite to China alumina market in 2015.
Asian Metal: How many bauxite mine sites do you have and how about the reserves?
Ilker Dilber: We own 20 different bauxite mine licenses at 3 different regions and are able to control about 15 million tons reserves in Turkey.
Asian Metal: Freight may be a major challenge for Turkish bauxite to China. How do you think? How about the port situation? Will you use big vessels?
Ilker Dilber: Higher cargo capacity vessel loadings will be a solution for freight issue. We are able to load our bauxite from 4 different ports in Turkey up to 100,000t cargo capacity vessels.
Asian Metal: Based on the current market, how do you think of the prices to China? How about the FOB prices to other countries now?
Ilker Dilber: China prices should be improved in order to expand imported bauxite sources. China FOB prices for monohydrate bauxite are lower than our current average exported bauxite FOB prices.
Asian Metal: Do you have a plan to expand production next year? How is the current annual capacity and output aim in 2017-2018?
Ilker Dilber: We are planning to operate 2 different green field bauxite deposits and expand our production in 2018. Current annual production capacity is 700,000 tons and output aim 400.000 tons in 2017 and 450,000 tons in 2018 so far.
Asian Metal: Does the Turkish government encourage bauxite export? Is there any duty?
Ilker Dilber: The Turkish government always supports and encourages environment friendly mine producer / exporter companies in Turkey. As there are enough reserves for local alumina production, we will not face kind of bauxite export bans in Turkey.
Asia Metal: Are there any other advantages of bauxite from Turkey?
Ilker Dilber: Demireller operates the most quality bauxite reserves in Turkey. We are able to load up to 100,000t cargo capacity vessels for lower freight. We are ready to make long lasting sustainable cooperation with Chinese alumina producers.
