Aust Bauxite halts production at Tas mine

Australian Bauxite has mothballed its mine in northeastern Tasmania, the state government says.

"Production at the mine has been suspended after the company failed to secure a buyer for its first shipment of bauxite products due to Chinese refineries stockpiling larger inventories of bauxite," acting Resources Minister Rene Hidding said on Wednesday.

The government tried to help find an alternative market but the task proved too difficult, forcing Australian Bauxite to place the Bald Hill mine in care and maintenance mode for now, he said.