US aluminum producer Alcoa will permanently close its Kwinana alumina refinery in Western Australia and expects to incur a $890 million loss in the third quarter due to the closure. The decision will affect around 220 employees. Staff numbers will be reduced through 2026 as the process unfolds, though a few employees will stay past 2026 to prepare the site for future redevelopment.
Alcoa previously signaled plans to shut the unprofitable refinery due to the aging facility, challenging market conditions, operating costs, and bauxite grade issues.
Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Matt Reed confirmed the company failed to find a viable path for a sustainable restart. The shutdown will reduce Alcoa's global alumina refining capacity to 11.7 million tons per year. This move reflects pressures on Australia's metals processing sector from high energy and labor costs.
Alcoa to permanently close Kwinana alumina refinery in Western Australia
30 Sep 2025 15:47 reported by Joy Liu
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