Buying bauxite well is less about finding the lowest price and more about finding ore that runs smoothly in your plant, lot after lot. This checklist brings together the questions experienced buyers ask before signing.
1. Define what your process needs
Start from your plant, not from a supplier's product sheet.
- Which grade do you need: metallurgical, refractory and abrasive or cement? See bauxite grades explained.
- Which chemistry limits matter most: available alumina, reactive silica, Fe₂O₃, TiO₂, alkalis?
- What size can your crushers, mills or kilns take?
- What moisture can your handling system tolerate?
- How much variation can your process absorb between lots?
2. Qualify the supplier
| Question | Why ask |
|---|---|
| Is the supplier the mine operator or a trader? | Direct supply gives more control over grade and continuity |
| Where is the mine, and what are its reserves and permits? | Confirms the source is real and can sustain supply |
| Is there on-site crushing, screening and grading? | Determines whether specs can be met consistently |
| How is ore sampled and tested? | Tells you whether certificates reflect what is shipped |
| What are the logistics options? | Decides delivered cost and reliability |
| How is the land reclaimed, and what are safety practices? | Matters for responsible sourcing commitments |
3. Ask for evidence, not only a spec
- Several recent certificates of analysis, not a single typical value. See how to read a bauxite specification sheet.
- A trial lot to run through your own process.
- Clarity on where samples are taken. At Minequor every lot is sampled at the minehead stockpile and again at loading.
- Openness to independent inspection at loading.
4. Get the logistics right
Agree the delivery basis, the mode (road or sea), the loading point and who handles what. For Raigad-origin ore, NH-66 road freight and port-bound shipping from the Konkan coast are both options. See bauxite logistics from Raigad. Plan for the monsoon.
5. Write the contract carefully
- Specification: guaranteed limits for each parameter, and rejection limits.
- Basis: dry or wet for chemistry, weight and price.
- Price adjustments for alumina above or below base, and penalties for silica, moisture or other elements.
- Sampling and analysis: point, method, lab, umpire procedure for disputes.
- Size: range and allowed undersize at delivery.
- Quantity and schedule, including monsoon months.
- Documents to accompany each lot.
6. Send a complete request for quote
The fastest way to an accurate quote is a complete RFQ. Include:
- Grade and key chemistry limits.
- Size and moisture requirements.
- Tonnage per month and contract duration.
- Delivery location and preferred mode.
- Required documentation and inspection.
You can send this through our inquiry form or to sales@minequor.com. The sales team replies with grade availability and logistics options.