Oil shock tightens grip on Jamaica's bauxite and alumina cost structure

The ongoing geopolitical tensions, especially with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, are deemed to be creating an adverse impact on Jamaica's bauxite and alumina sector. As warned by the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), the country is now grappling with increased production costs and a feeding inflationary pressures.

Geographically, irrespective of being far from the Middle East, Jamaica is said to be closely linked in the global markets. The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz shows that if the energy flow is threatened, the effect is felt by every region, including the petrol price and the industrial