Japanese trading house Sojitz Corp, a unit of Sojitz Holdings, had sold 25,000 tonnes of Australian alumina for March shipment via tender last week at about $410 a tonne FOB, European traders said on Monday. One trader said Sojitz was believed to have sold the cargo at $405-$410 a tonne FOB, while the other trader said the price was believed to be about $410. Officials with Sojitz were not immediately available for comment.

Sojitz currently has a 9 percent stake at the Worsley alumina project in Australia and Itochu Corp holds 5 percent, while BHP Billiton has the remaining stake of 86 percent. Sojitz Holdings was previously Nissho Iwai-Nichimen Holdings.

Copyright Reuters, 2005