Mining workers oversee bauxite extraction in Guinea’s mineral-rich region.
Guinea, the world’s leading bauxite producer, is considering new measures to stabilize falling prices by tightening control over output and exports. The proposal, led by Mines Minister Bouna Sylla, aims to prevent further price declines after bauxite prices have nearly halved since early 2025 despite exports surging 25% to 183 million tons. By aligning production with approved mining plans, the government hopes to protect revenues while encouraging more local processing of the ore into alumina. The move mirrors similar resource-control strategies in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, and could reshape global aluminum supply chains, particularly for China, which remains the primary buyer of Guinea’s ore. The announcement has already pushed alumina prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange up nearly 5%.
Bloomberg