Venezuela's CVG-Bauxilum alumina sales totaled 64,126 mt in March, up 57% from 40,822 mt in March 2013, Bauxilum said Friday.

March sales were also up 13% month on month from sales of 56,524 mt in February.

Of March sales, 46,018 mt were domestic sales and 18,108 mt were export sales to China's Chalieco.

Again, Bauxilum's once-principal client, Glencore International AG, was not shipped any alumina. Bauxilum would not affirm that Chalieco is being given priority over Glencore because it has a $403 million deal with the Venezuelan government to modernize operations at the CVG-Alcasa primary aluminum smelter.

More than a year ago, Bauxilum was negotiating with Chalieco to raise production at its Puerto Ordaz-based plant, but an agreement was never reached on a contract.

Today, Bauxilum is pinning its hopes for a revival on a portion of resources from the $5 billion China-Venezuela Fund that is expected to be made available sometime in the second quarter.

March bauxite sales from Bauxilum's Pijiguaos mine totaled 606 mt, down 25% from sales of 807 mt in March 2013.

March bauxite sales were also down 46% month on month from sales of 1,123 mt in February.

The sales were to Ferralca downstream aluminum company. There were no bauxite export sales.

Bauxilum forms part of the Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana's (CVG) 600,000 mt/year primary aluminum complex in Puerto Ordaz, Bolivar state.