Guinea will reduce its bauxite export volumes by early April in a move aimed at supporting prices and protecting smaller producers, the country’s mines minister said on Wednesday, as weak demand from China and rising shipping costs continue to pressure the world’s leading supplier of the aluminium raw material.
“It’s not really a quota, but we will reduce the volumes we export,” Mines Minister Bouna Sylla told Reuters, while ruling out the possibility of an export ban.
Reuters had earlier reported that Guinea was considering export restrictions to improve sector profitability and increase government revenue.
Guinea’s bauxite exports rose by 25% to 183 million metric tons in 2025, and analysts expect shipments could reach 200 million tons this year.
However, prices have declined since 2025 due to oversupply, with roughly 70% of Guinea’s exports going to China. At the same time, freight costs have surged, partly due to disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict, Sylla said.
The combination of lower prices and higher shipping costs has significantly squeezed margins, particularly for smaller mining companies. This has increased the risk of bankruptcy and poses a threat to jobs, government revenue, and the well-being of host communities.
Don’t Miss This:
Ghana Ends $1.2 Billion Bauxite Deal, Eyes Global Partnership —Sources
Across Africa, governments are tightening control over natural resources in an effort to capture more value, introducing measures such as export limits, higher royalties, and requirements for local processing.
Sylla said Guinea is in discussions with mining companies to ensure that production levels and investments in infrastructure, including railways, ports, and refineries, align with commitments made when licenses were granted.
The government has also instructed all bauxite producers to submit detailed production plans covering the next three years. These plans are currently under review and will help shape the final decision on sector-wide export reductions.
That process is expected to conclude “before the end of this month or early April,” Sylla said, following consultations and detailed analysis.
While falling bauxite prices have reduced corporate income tax revenues, Sylla noted that higher aluminium prices, currently above $3,000 per ton, have increased royalty earnings, helping to partially offset the fiscal impact.
Guinea allocates 0.5% of mining companies’ revenues to local development funds, meaning that prolonged price weakness could affect community projects such as schools and infrastructure.
“All companies will be affected,” Sylla said. “We want more revenue, and they want more sustainable operations.”
Guinea’s mines chamber did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Don’t Miss This:
Guinea Ships Nearly 183 Million Tons Of Bauxite In 2025 As China Takes Record Share Of Exports
Image Credit: TRT Afrika
