Australian Bauxite Limited has profitably sold its 40,000 tonne bauxite stockpile at Bell Bay.

It told the ASX it was preparing to re-open its Bald Hill mine in August.

The company said once contracts were closed, it and its contractors would assemble a bauxite cargo for shipping to a new customer which had tested its product.

The company hit problems when weak prices led to a struggle to sell its early production.

It has been focusing on sales for use in the cement, fertiliser and other non-metallurgical bauxite markets, and said it would do so until metallurgical markets improved.

It noted prices had risen in recent weeks and said new markets were emerging for cement bauxite and metallurgical bauxite for the aluminium industry.

It also hopes to mine in Queensland.

                        - SEAN FORD