Guinea’s bauxite exports rose 23% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, driven by higher production and firm Chinese demand, despite seasonal weather disruptions and logistical constraints, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Mines and Geology on October 16.

Bauxite is a reddish-brown rock that’s the main raw material used to make aluminium — the lightweight metal found in cans, planes, cars, and phones. Guinea shipped about 29.6mn tonnes of bauxite between July and September, up from 24.1mn tonnes in Q3 2024.

The increase was led by Société Minière de Boké (SMB) — a consortium owned by Winning International Group, Weiqiao Aluminium (HKEX:1918) and United Mining Supply (UMS) — along with Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG) (49% state-owned, 51% Halco Mining, whose shareholders include Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO, LSE:RIO, NYSE:RIO) and Alcoa (NYSE:AA)). Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), a subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) of the UAE, also reported solid quarterly growth.

Provisional figures show that China accounted for around 70% of shipments, equivalent to roughly 54% of total Chinese bauxite imports during the quarter, while smaller consignments went to India and the UAE. Export earnings are estimated at about $1.6 bn, based on customs averages and market prices of $53–$55 per tonne FOB.

The rise reflects continued global alumina demand following Indonesia’s 2023 bauxite-export ban, which has made Guinea the world’s largest seaborne supplier—now exceeding the combined overseas shipments of Australia and Indonesia—and the dominant source of China’s aluminium feedstock.

Officials said heavy rains and road closures in the Boké region slowed some truck movements in August, but overall export volumes held up thanks to rail operations and improved vessel-handling capacity at the main ports. The government has prioritised rail-corridor upgrades between Boké and Kamsar, along with new links to industrial zones under the National Infrastructure Master Plan 2024–2030, aimed at reducing transport costs and improving logistics reliability.

The Ministry of Mines said the sector continues to attract investment under the revised Mining Code of 2022, which promotes local beneficiation and alumina refining. New projects—including Chalco’s Boffa expansion and Henan International Mining’s Garafiri concession—are expected to start production in 2026, potentially lifting national output capacity to 150 mn tonnes per year.

Chalco’s Boffa expansion, led by Aluminum Corporation of China Ltd (Chalco, HKEX:2600, SHA:601600), will double mine capacity to 24 mn tonnes annually through a $700 mn investment in processing and port facilities at Katougouma in the Boké region. Meanwhile, Henan International Mining Co. Ltd, backed by Henan Non-Ferrous Metals Holding Group, is developing the Garafiri concession near Kindia, targeting up to 10mn tonnes a year once operational after 2026.

The ministry added that final audited export data for Q3 will be released in November 2025, once port and customs reconciliations are complete. Officials expect total 2025 shipments to reach a new record if current export momentum continues through the final quarter.