Guinea exported 99.8 million tonnes of bauxite in the first half of 2025, a sharp 36 per cent rise from 73.4 million tonnes in the same period of 2024. That figure is almost equal to the country’s entire output in 2022. The rise is a result of strong run, with exports up 19.6 per cent in 2023 to 127 million tonnes, followed by another 14 per cent increase in 2024 to 145 million tonnes.
What makes the latest surge stand out is the backdrop, Guinea is in the middle of political turbulence, a tightening grip on mining rights by the junta, and rising unease among investors.
Export boom and China’s role
The export boom has several drivers, but China is at the center. Roughly 60 per cent of Guinea’s ore goes to Chinese buyers, and Beijing’s aluminium production was up about 4 per cent in the first five months of 2025, according to the sources. This is due to rebound in construction and manufacturing.