Guinea’s bauxite exports climbed 25% in 2025 to 182.8 million metric tons, according to official data seen by Reuters, further strengthening the country’s position as the world’s leading supplier of aluminium ore.
Chinese buyers accounted for a record 74% of Guinea’s bauxite shipments, based on Chinese customs figures, underscoring Beijing’s growing influence over Guinea’s mineral resources.
Guinea overtook Australia as the world’s top bauxite exporter in 2023, according to BMI, a research unit of Fitch Solutions, and has continued to record double-digit growth in output since then.
Data from Guinea’s mines ministry showed that 23 companies exported bauxite in 2025. China’s state-owned aluminium producer Chalco led shipments with 22.1 million tons.
It was followed by CBG, a company majority owned by a consortium that includes mining giants Rio Tinto and Alcoa, which exported 17.4 million tons. SMB, Guinea’s first private bauxite exporter, and the largely Guinean-owned AGB2A/SDM joint venture each shipped 17.0 million tons.
Although exports slowed during the second half of the year, shipments during that period still rose 16% to 84 million tons.
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China continues to be the main beneficiary of Guinea’s mining expansion, holding more than 60% of the massive Simandou iron ore project, which began production last year, as well as stakes in gold and lithium developments.
Chinese customs data showed that China’s bauxite imports rose 26.4% in 2025 to 200.5 million tons, driven largely by supply from Guinea.
A note from Citi said Guinea had shipped 150 million tons of bauxite to China by November, accounting for more than 80% of the feedstock required by China’s aluminium smelters with a combined capacity of 45 million tons.
Guinea’s surge in output has coincided with China capping aluminium smelting capacity, putting pressure on global prices. Shanghai alumina prices fell 48% in the first 10 months of 2025.
In November, Guinea’s mines minister told Reuters that the government was fast-tracking plans to develop domestic alumina refineries and iron ore pellet plants in an effort to reduce exports of unprocessed raw materials.
“We are finally seeing production growth translate into state finances,” said Bernabe Sanchez, principal mineral economist at Canadian consultancy CPCS, referring to Guinea’s budget ministry projections that point to a 40% increase in revenues in 2025.
He expects strong export volumes to persist as state-owned Nimba and Axis Mining continue to scale up production.
Weekly data from the mines ministry covering January 12 to 18 showed shipments of 4.9 million tons of bauxite and 175,880 tons of iron ore.
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Image Credit: Reuters
