Guinea’s bauxite exports rose by 23 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, reaching 39.4 million metric tonnes compared to 32 million tonnes in the same period last year, according to data from the Ministry of Mines and Geology as reported by Reuters. The growth came despite heavy rainfall that disrupted mine access and port operations, as well as increased regulatory oversight by the military-led government.
Monthly shipments averaged 13.1 million tonnes during the quarter, nearly 19 percent lower than in the first half of the year. The decline reflects Guinea’s seasonal mining challenges, particularly during the wet season. Meanwhile, the government has intensified pressure on mining companies to establish local alumina refineries, revoking some licenses and warning that future export approvals will favor firms contributing to domestic processing capacity.
Chinese companies remained the dominant buyers, accounting for over half of total exports during the quarter. Major operators such as SMB-Winning, CHALCO, and CDM-CHINE collectively supplied around 54.6 percent of the bauxite shipped, reinforcing Guinea’s position as a key source for China’s aluminum industry. The country currently supplies roughly one-third of China’s total bauxite imports, underscoring Beijing’s strategic reliance on Guinean ore.
Analysts expect total bauxite production in Guinea to reach about 180 million tonnes by the end of 2025, more than 20 percent higher than last year’s output. However, alumina exports remain negligible, only 78,000 tonnes were shipped in the same period, highlighting the slow pace of progress toward local beneficiation despite government policy shifts.
