Guinea set a new record for bauxite exports in Q1 2025 with 48.6 million metric tons of the material shipped—a 39% jump from the previous year—despite regulatory hurdles and the country’s export ban on key players in the sector. Most of the shipments went to China, where aluminum production is on the rise once again. Chinese-backed firms like Société Minière de Boké and Chalco drove the surge, underlining Beijing’s growing control over Guinea’s vast bauxite reserves. With weekly exports pointing to a projected annual total of 199 million tons, Guinea’s bauxite sector is proving remarkably resilient. As the West African nation builds out port infrastructure to meet soaring demand, its role in fueling China’s aluminum industry—and shaping global supply chains—is only set to grow.
Reuters
