Guinea bauxite exports up 36% to 99.8 million tons on Chinese demand
Bauxite exports jumped from 73.4 million tons in the same period last year, with Chinese-controlled firms commanding over 60% of shipments from the West African nation's expanding port network.
China's aluminum production climbed 4.0% to 18.59 million tons in the first five months of 2025 as increased infrastructure spending and a manufacturing rebound boosted appetite for the critical raw material used in aluminum production, data from its National Bureau of Statistics showed.
China accounts for about 60% of global production of aluminium, used in transport, packaging and construction.
Guinea's surging bauxite shipments to China coincide with the planned launch of the massive Simandou iron ore project, majority-owned by Chinese firms – deepening resource export dependence on Beijing as Western governments have not made as much headway in the country.
China's CHALCO exported 8.9 million tons of bauxite from Guinea, while CDM-CHINE shipped 4.1 million tons and SPIC contributed 1.8 million tons.
Market leader SMB, backed by Chinese investors, dominated with 31.2 million tons - nearly one-third of total exports.
The surge came despite Guinea's military government implementing stricter mining regulations that forced several companies to halt operations entirely. GAC, KIMBO, and SBG recorded zero exports throughout the period, while Kambia Bauxite Mining remained dormant.
The crackdown's impact was evident in the data variations. While established Chinese firms maintained steady shipments, smaller operators struggled.
Port diversification also supported export growth, with nine active facilities handling exports. Dapilon/Katougouma led with 30% of shipments, followed by Kokaya at 25%, reducing bottlenecks at the traditional Kamsar hub.
Strong first-half performance positions Guinea, the world's second-largest bauxite producer, for annual exports potentially exceeding 199 million tons, cementing its status as the world's largest bauxite supplier despite ongoing regulatory restructuring.
"Guinea's first-half shipments represent 24% of 2024's global supply - quite remarkable by all standards," said Theo Acheampong at Critical Minerals Africa Group. While China's dominance on Guinean bauxite is already established, "what would be interesting is Guinea building its own processing capacity to retain more in-country value."
Guinea has pressured, opens new tab bauxite producers to refine locally after decades of exporting the raw material, leading to disputes with some companies who have had their licenses revoked after they were not able to meet the refinery construction timelines set by the government.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
IMF approves $367 million disbursement to Ghana after fourth review
July 7 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund's Executive Board has completed the fourth review under its Extended Credit Facility arrangement with Ghana, unlocking an immediate disbursement of about $367 million, the IMF said on Monday. Ghana's finance ministry said earlier in a post on X that the country will receive a $370 million disbursement from the IMF. The new funding brings the West African nation's total disbursements under the arrangement to around $2.3 billion, the fund said. The IMF approved a $3 billion, three-year bailout for Ghana in May 2023 that helped stabilise Ghana's economy and led to a Fitch rating revision.
Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
Thailand has submitted latest trade proposal to United States, finance minister says
BANGKOK, July 7 (Reuters) - Thailand has submitted its latest trade proposal to the United States, its finance minister Pichai Chunhavajira said on Monday, as it tries to head off steep tariffs from its largest export market. Washington has threatened to impose a 36% levy on imports from Thailand if a reduction cannot be negotiated before July 9, when a 90-day pause capping tariffs at a baseline of 10% for most nations expires. The United States accounted for 18.3% of Thailand's shipments last year, or $54.96 billion. Washington has put its deficit with Thailand at $45.6 billion. "We heard their feedback and what what they were especially interested in and we adjusted it," said minister Pichai Chunhavajira, who returned from Washington last week following talks. He said there could be other adjustments in future. Thailand's top three exports to the United States last year were computers, teleprinters and telephone sets, and rubber products. Its top three imports from the U.S. were crude oil, machinery and parts, and chemicals. Thai state-owned energy giant, PTT Group ( opens new tab in June signed an agreement to procure 2 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas per year from Glenfarne's Alaska LNG project over a 20-year term. The $44 billion project has been by U.S. President Donald Trump. Pichai earlier said Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, opens new tab could expand by just over 1% this year due to the impact of U.S. tariffs. Thailand's has struggled with weak consumption, soaring household debt, slowing tourism, trade uncertainty and potentially steep U.S. tariffs. Last month, the central bank forecast economic growth of 2.3% this year, after last year's growth of 2.5% lagged peers in the region.
Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
China studies resuming chicken imports from Brazil, minister says
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 6 (Reuters) - China is studying ways to soon lift its ban on imports of chicken meat from Brazil, in place since the South American nation reported a case of bird flu on a commercial farm in May, Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro said on Sunday, citing discussions at the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro. Speaking during the event, Favaro said the topic came up in a meeting between Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. "I had the opportunity during the bilateral meeting between President Lula and the Chinese premier (to say) that they could already review their position on restrictions," Favaro told reporters, adding that Li said China is now "studying the protocols quickly to resume the purchase of poultry meat." While no timeline for lifting the embargo was discussed, Favaro emphasized Brazil's efforts to recover export markets after over 20 countries imposed bans following the bird flu case in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Most restrictions were lifted after the World Organization for Animal Health declared the case resolved in late June. Brazilian poultry exports have suffered, with shipments of fresh chicken meat falling 23% in June to 314,000 tons, according to government data. On Thursday, the Agriculture Ministry announced that seven more nations had lifted restrictions, leaving bans in place in nine countries, including China, Malaysia, and Peru.
