Alumina fundamentals are much better than iron ore.

Alumina signs $350m bauxite deal

Alcoa's Australian partner, Alumina Ltd, has signed a deal to supply bauxite to customers in China, Europe and Brazil worth more than $350 million.

Results will point to Alcoa's future

  Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa's chief executive, has been attempting, with a series of acquisitions and plant closures, to build up the company's specialised metals and components businesses and improve the competitiveness of its commodity operations.

Rio is the largest global producer of bauxite, with a current long position of 18 million tonnes, including Gove.

Rio Tinto to approve Qld bauxite mine

Rio Tinto expects its South of Embley bauxite project near Weipa in Queensland to deliver returns comparable to its lucrative Pilbara iron ore operations, and is likely to approve its development this year.

Local nickelminers such as Western Areas have seen their share price almost double since January.

Time has come for nickel, aluminium

With Indonesia banning nickel exports and China toning down investment in aluminium, the fortunes of these previously overlooked metals has turned. And investors are catching on.