U.S. aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. (AA) said late Wednesday its Juruti bauxite mine in Brazil is in the process of being commissioned, with the first shipment expected within the next 90 days, the company noted.

Juruti, located in the heart of the Amazon in the west of the state of Para, is expected to initially produce 2.6 million metric tons of bauxite annually, and will supply the needs of Alcoa's joint venture at the Alumar alumina refinery in Sao Luis, Maranhao state.

Alumar has already begun to produce its first alumina and is on target for ramp-up to full production during the second half of the year.

Alcoa has a 54% stake in Alumar through its Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals joint venture with Alumina Ltd. (AWC.AU), in which Alcoa holds a 60% interest.

BHP Billiton PLC (BHP) meanwhile has a 36% interest in Alumar and Rio Tinto Alcan, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto PLC (RTP), has the remaining 10% stake.

Around four tons of bauxite makes two tons of alumina, which is then smelted to make around one ton of aluminum metal.

-By Andrea Hotter, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 7842 9413; andrea.hotter@dowjones.com